Ballack wary of Mourinho reunion

Ballack wary of Mourinho reunion
(PA) Saturday 20 February 2010
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Michael Ballack is looking forward to meeting up with Jose Mourinho again next week, but recognises the perils of taking on the Inter Milan coach. Chelsea travel to face their former manager's team at the San Siro on Wednesday, having been drawn against what the Germany international insists was the worst possible opponent in the UEFA Champions League.

Mourinho knows the Blues all too well having constructed much of their squad himself. "We have unfortunately, as group winners, been given the toughest draw possible," said Ballack.
He still knows us all very well and that gives this game a special explosiveness. He always knew everything about every opponent, every player and every tactic.
Chelsea's Michael Ballack on facing an Inter Milan team coached by former Blues manager Jose Mourinho

"But that doesn't bother us - we are looking forward to it, also because the former manager Jose Mourinho is coming. He still knows us all very well and that gives this game a special explosiveness."

Although it is already more than two and a half years since Mourinho left the Premier League club, his legacy lives on in the squad which has largely remained intact. Ballack himself was one of the Portuguese's signings when he arrived on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, and he expects his former manager to be all clued up about his opponents next week.

"There won't be any information that Mourinho doesn't know about," said Ballack in an interview with Germany's Sat.1 television. "He always knew everything about every opponent, every player and every tactic.

"He knows the players from his time here and only a few new ones have arrived, but the core of the team has remained the same. He gave us our style of play which has not changed over the last few years."

And the Germany captain knows it is going to be tough eliminating I Nerazzurri, who he named as one of the favourites to win the competition this season.

"Of course Barcelona, as holders, and also Manchester United are always among the favourites," he said. "Then there are teams like Inter, Real Madrid and even Bayern Munich. Bayern enjoy a lot of respect throughout Europe and their current positive run of form is being noticed."
Leverkusen have the title in their own hands. I would be overjoyed if they won. After all these years, they really have deserved it.
Michael Ballack reveals his desire for his former club, Bayer Leverkusen, to win the 2009/10 Bundesliga

If Bayern are to conquer Europe this season, Ballack would prefer it if another of his former clubs won the Bundesliga. The 33-year-old was part of the Bayer Leverkusen side which finished runners-up in the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal in 2002, and he is keeping his fingers crossed that they can go one better this year.

"Leverkusen have the title in their own hands," he said. "It is only a question of whether they can confirm their performances which, it has to be said, were not expected to be so strong.

"But I believe that this young team has learned from recent years. I would be overjoyed if they won the league. After all these years, they really have deserved it."