Germany

Lothar Matthaus: Michael Ballack Could Be Ditched By Chelsea

The German legend believes that the midfielder is no more than a fringe player at Stamford Bridge and could be sold in the summer…

Apr 23, 2009 12:43:10 PM

Germany and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack celebrates the win over wales

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Germany and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack celebrates the win over wales

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Michael Ballack

German national team captain Michael Ballack is a free agent this summer as his Chelsea contract expires and it is still unclear where he future lies.

Former German captain and World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus believes that Ballack could be ditched by the London club as he is not a ‘key player’.

In his column for Sportbild Matthaus has written that the former Bayern Munich midfielder has struggled to replicate his stellar form for the Bavarians in the Premier League and is no more than a peripheral figure at Chelsea.

"At Chelsea Ballack is just present rather than right in the thick of things. He is a nominal player at the big London club - that is not an insult," Matthaus opined in Sportbild.

"The squad is packed with top stars. To establish yourself as a leading player there is hard. Ballack has not managed it.

"He is always in the first team. The question is only: For how much longer?"

With the world financial crisis even hitting Roman Abramovich, Chelsea are rumoured to be preparing a clear-out this summer, which could well spell the end of his career in west London for Michael Ballack.

Mathew Burt, Goal.com