Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Michael Ballack looking forward to Chelsea return in UEFA Champions League fixture
Former Chelsea midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Ballack-c25270 will be returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time tonight since he left the club in the 2010 summer transfer window. The 34-year-old transferred to Bayer Leverkusen under the reign of Chelsea manager Carlo
Ancelotti, after helping the side win the domestic double of the English Premier League and the FA Cup in the 2009-2010 season.
As fate would have it, Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen were drawn in the same group of the UEFA Champions League. Both sides begin their European campaign tonight, with the German side travelling to Chelsea as obvious underdogs. To mark his return to Stamford
Bridge, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 have arranged a presentation for the former German international.
Ballack, who turns 35 years old later this month, revealed he was touched by the fact that the Blues had decided to recognize his services for the club by arranging a special presentation for him. Having spent four years at the club, Ballack has had some
memorable times with the London club and said he was looking forward to returning to the English side where he would face his former teammates.
Ballack said while speaking to reporters:
“The presentation is a very nice gesture and it will be a very emotional moment for me tomorrow.
There are still a few players there and some who left in the meantime who I am still friends with and whom I am still in touch with, and also a few of the staff.”
Ballack joined Chelsea in the summer of 2006 on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, snubbing Manchester United, AC Milan, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan and Real Madrid to join the Blues instead. Apart from his second season at the club, during which he was out with injury,
Ballack went on to make an average of 45 appearances in the other three seasons.
In total, Ballack made 163 appearances in all competitions and scored 26 goals. The German midfield won the English Premier League, FA Community Shield and Carling Cup once, the FA Cup thrice in addition to finishing runners-up to Manchester United in the
2007-2008 final of the UEFA Champions League. He revealed he remembered his time at the club fondly, which is why he was happy to return.
Ballack added:
“If I look back, I had a very good time. I feel always welcomed by the fans and the club. They treat me always very well and we had success.”
Leverkusen finished at second place in the domestic league and are not favourites against Chelsea, but Ballack maintained confidence in his side. He admitted that while the Blues boasted some big names, his side would be able to present them with a decent
challenge. It was previously unknown whether or not Ballack would be picked to travel to Chelsea, but the midfielder was seen training with the rest of the squad.
He said:
“It is just a game of football, although we are aware there are some big names on the other side.
We will have our chances.”
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