I want to end my career at Chelsea: Ballack
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-05-22 09:00

LONDON - Chelsea's new addition Michael Ballack says he wants to end his career at the Stamford Bridge club.

The Germany international has signed a three year deal with the back-to-back Premiership champions reported to be worth 130,000 pounds a week.

And the 29-year-old former Bayern Munich star has no plans to move again.

"I hope things work out well and that we're successful in the next three years and the possibility will exist to extend that contract.

"You could say that is my vision at the moment, to end my career at Chelsea."

The Germany captain makes no secret of the fact that he has come to west London in a bid to win the Champions League.

But he admits even Roman Abramovich's billions are not enough to guarantee the team can triumph in the competition won by Barcelona last week.

Ballack said: "The Champions League is my aim but there are no guarantees of winning anything.

"You can have as many great players as you want but there are no guarantees.

"Perfect conditions exist at Chelsea but I was a Champions League runner-up at Bayer Leverkusen when I moved to Bayern Munich to join a fantastic side, with Ze Roberto and Sebastian Deisler at the top of his game.

"Somebody said it was the German team of the century but we went out in the first round."

Ballack was happy to end the months of speculation about his future before the World Cup in his homeland.

Germany were hammered 4-1 by Italy in March but there is always pressure on the team ahead of a World Cup, especially when it is on home soil.
Page: 12

 
 

Related Stories