Chelsea’s Experienced Players Need To Stand Up And Be Counted – Bayer Leverkusen Midfielder Michael Ballack

The former Blues man believes the senior members of the Stamford Bridge squad need to help ease the pressure of recent defeats on Portuguese boss Andre Villas-Boas

By Matt Scott

Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Michael Ballack
Bongarts
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Michael Ballack believes that Chelsea's experienced squad members need to stand up and help curb the club's recent run of poor form.

The former Chelsea midfielder helped the German side to a 2-1 Champions League victory over Andre Villas-Boas' men on Wednesday night, a result which followed Sunday's home loss to Liverpool.

A number of senior players such as captain John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba have a strong influence in the Stamford Bridge dressing room, and Ballack believes it is up to them to help ease the pressure following a recent string of defeats.

"They have to do it," Ballack told reporters. "You can't talk about or just criticise the young players.

"It always has to come from the older more experienced players.

"There are still enough big and experienced players at the club who speak in the dressing room. I'm sure of that, it's not just one player."

The German midfielder made 167 appearances for Chelsea in four seasons winning the FA Cup three times, and the Premier League and cup double in 2010.

 

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