Premier League - Ballack 'agrees new deal'

Eurosport - Sun, 31 May 15:58:00 2009

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, only a substitute for Saturday's FA Cup final win over Everton, has agreed a one-year contract extension.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Chelsea Michael Ballack - 0

"I haven't signed yet but I have agreed for another year," Ballack, 32, told BBC Sport, adding he expected Milan's Carlo Ancelotti to succeed Guus Hiddink as coach next season at Stamford Bridge.

"I haven't worked under him and I don't know him very well but you can see from the work he has done at Milan that he is a successful manager," Ballack said.

"It's not done yet but it looks like he will be coach."

Ancelotti is set to reveal if he is to take charge after the Serie A season ends on Sunday evening as interim manager Hiddink, who replaced the sacked Luiz Felipe in February, returns to his job as Russia coach following four months in London.

Ballack, signed by Jose Mourinho in 2006, has seen Chelsea win two FA Cups since but insisted that next season he wants to target bigger prizes with Manchester United having dominated the league since his arrival in England.

"What we need at Chelsea is consistency," he insisted. "There is not much that we need to change to win the Premier League next season. We have a great team, which is the most important thing, but we have to change the manager again and we will need a bit of time to adapt.

"Every coach works with different methods and the players have to get to know him - hopefully we won't need too much time because if we do we will be a little bit behind," said Ballack, who indicated he did not think a new coach would need to go on a spending spree.

"I don't think we need to buy anybody because we already have a lot of good players on the bench.

"That is for the club to decide but, if you look at the performances over the last couple of years in reaching finals, we have a really good squad and are heading in the right direction."

AFP

Comment 3 - 22 of 42

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. peghead-solent assassin-dazmanure-michael o-scouse­ hater is all 1 guy who chats to himself between his­ muti ids he is from charlton east london that claims to­ be a manc born and bred

    From fergieisagenitalwart, on Sun 31 May 4:54PM

  2. peghead-solent assassin-dazmanure-michael o-scouse­ hater is all 1 guy who chats to himself between his­ muti ids he is from charlton east london that claims to­ be a manc born and bred

    From fergieisagenitalwart, on Sun 31 May 4:54PM

  3. peghead-solent assassin-dazmanure-michael o-scouse­ hater is all 1 guy who chats to himself between his­ muti ids he is from charlton east london that claims to­ be a manc born and bred

    From fergieisagenitalwart, on Sun 31 May 4:54PM

  4. peghead-solent assassin-dazmanure-michael o-scouse­ hater is all 1 guy who chats to himself between his­ muti ids he is from charlton east london that claims to­ be a manc born and bred

    From fergieisagenitalwart, on Sun 31 May 4:53PM

  5. 17 you sure it's not @#$% ??

    From handyandyisalways, on Sun 31 May 4:48PM

  6. 1

    From handyandyisalways, on Sun 31 May 4:47PM

  7. Ballack? Bolloxs more like. Glad he's staying

    GGMU

    From pegez, on Sun 31 May 4:42PM

  8. Ballack doens't like u too, tratjohn!!

    it will be­ better if Ballack goes back to the Bundesliga.

    From Andreas, on Sun 31 May 4:38PM

  9. Chelsea get's what they deserve, Incredible Ballack­ didn't get a suspension from UEFA for his conduct­ in the SF. Pathetic. Ballack what a disappointment in­ general. And bring in Ancelloti for more boring style­ Italian football! That suits chelsea just fine...

    From Anna, on Sun 31 May 4:07PM

  10. Foe the Ballack haters....He carried the club through­ the spring of 08 and into Moscow... all injuries to the­ starting midfield and Grant depending on him... I agree­ this year was quite unspectacular...couple of goals­ against Burnley, still would rather have him then play­ against him...

    From dustin, on Sun 31 May 3:54PM

  11. well done chelsea + rangers woohoo :)

    From Captain Pugwash, on Sun 31 May 3:41PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i dont like ballack

    From tratjohn, on Sun 31 May 3:39PM

  13. A few football pundits are saying that AC Milan Manager­ Carlo Ancelotti, together with David Beckham, are both­ to join Chelsea. Any views on this?

    From Tom..., on Sun 31 May 3:32PM

  14. hmmmm

    From rc_alcock_the_scouse_bum_boy, on Sun 31 May 3:15PM

  15. isn't ballack one of the most useless players in­ the epl? seriously, he doesn't do anything. i bet­ chelsea regret giving him a contract with a 1 year­ extension now.

    From the_smiths_rule, on Sun 31 May 3:11PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I thought everyone needed to meet some miracle after­ all the terrible stuff in the news and the economy­ :)Find your true dreammates @@@@@@@@@ /____W ealthyFin­ der Co m _______\

    From jennetleeghj, on Sun 31 May 2:55PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Pardon me. I missplet Micheal @#$% as Micheal Ballack.­ My mistake, and I apologize for it. =]

    From loads_of_codswallop, on Sun 31 May 2:17PM

  18. Ballack is staying.

    Haha! And that's supposed to­ be good news for Chel@#$% fans. :D

    From loads_of_codswallop, on Sun 31 May 2:13PM

  19. whoooooo yes b llcks is a great & wonderful man .­ i'm overjoyed not for you

    From antoni50, on Sun 31 May 1:38PM

  20. im glad ballack the has been is staying too
    mufc fan

    From Andrew, on Sun 31 May 1:37PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account