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Mourinho wants Ballack answer soon

(AFP)
Updated: 2006-04-15 11:22

"He is thinking positively about that, but he has never told me 'Next season I will be at Chelsea' so I still wait.

"If he comes he is a plus. If he is not coming well we already have a very good midfield so we will still survive.

"I am happy with the squad, the players, the age of the group. I am happy with the motivation and desire the team shows to me.

"I would be happy to stay with exactly the same squad but that is a normal process in a club like Chelsea.

"I would be happy to stay with exactly the same players, that is normal. You would look for one, two three players to improve and always one, two, three are keen to make a move and have a good direction, that's very, very normal."

On Thursday, Ballack said: "There have been serious talks. Nothing has been signed yet but I know what I want. I always wanted to play abroad at some stage. This is the last chance for me to do this."

Meanwhile Chelsea remain favourites to retain their champion status but after suffering a defeat to Fulham then a 0-0 draw with Birmingham, their away form has lapsed and that is something Mourinho wants put right at Bolton.

"On the first day of the season I said we would be champions at Newcastle. If we can be champions before that, fantastic. If we are champions in Newcastle then great," the Portuguese explained.

"Last season we won the league with two games to go, this season we can do the same, but maybe it is a little bit more difficult because last season we never stopped.

"This season we have stopped winning games away from home and we have given others the chance to reduce the difference.

"Our away form must get better, it cannot be worse. We are not playing well away from home. The last victory was at West Bromwich and we didn't play especially well."

Chelsea top the table by seven points but they could kick-off at the Reebok Stadium with only a four-point advantage if second-placed Manchester United beat bottom of the table Sunderland in Friday's late kick-off match.