15/30 Interview: Michael Ballack

15/30 INTERVIEW – MICHAEL BALLACK

Michael Ballack signed for Chelsea for the 2006/7 season, and like many Chelsea players took a season to get acclimatised to the club culture, before excelling in his second year. 30 appearances produced nine goals from midfield, and provided the assist for a Chelsea equaliser in the Carling Cup final against Arsenal.

Michael was born in East Germany 32-years-ago in the small town of Görlitz. His family moved to Karl-Marx-Stadt, as it was called then, before changing its name to Chemnitz after German reunification. he then played for Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich

He has represented Germany 92 times and scored the winning goal against Portugal in Euro 2008, inflicting then future (and now former) Chelsea manager Phil Scolari’s first defeat at that stage of the tournament. His last international appearance was against Wales in Cardiff, and he scored the first goal in Germany’s 2-0 win.

We interviewed Michael after he had played for Chelsea in a pre-season friendly against the Seattle Sounders.

PROST AMERIKA: How big a year is this in your career?

MICHAEL BALLACK: Yeah, not just this year, every year is important. But as you know World Cup is not every year. It’s important because we need to qualify and that’s our first focus. We have to prove that we have qualified, but then of course everybody’s looking forward to next year.

PROST AMERIKA: Looking at the other international sides, who do you think will be Germany’s main rivals in the World Cup next year?

MICHAEL BALLACK: Like I said first we have to qualify but then we have to see, normally the big names are involved every year, so Brazil, Argentina, and the strong European countries like Germany, Spain as the European Cup winner and France and England, so a lot, they have a good chance to win.

PROST AMERIKA: Not England seriously?

MICHAEL BALLACK: (laughs) But I have to say England though because I play there.

PROST AMERIKA: I knew that! Did you watch the USA in the Confederations Cup? What do you make of the current state of the American team?

MICHAEL BALLACK: I didn’t watch that much, I didn’t see that many games, that’s why I can’t really tell you anything about it.

PROST AMERIKA: Freddie Ljungberg has played here and been very popular. Have you got your eye perhaps after the World Cup that you might like to play in the States?

MICHAEL BALLACK: My first choice is to stay in Europe, maybe in Chelsea and then we’ll see what’s happened next year. Of course I’m 32 now and have few years ahead so I want to play a few years in the high level but I will see in the future what’s happened.

PROST AMERIKA: As for your club form, do you think Chelsea fans have seen the best of Michael Ballack, or is there something else that you’re going to bring this year?

MICHAEL BALLACK: I always can improve my game but as you know it’s important that we have success with the team, not personally, but of course I want to give my best and I will try as hard again this year.

PROST AMERIKA: What are your hopes for Germany in the coming season?

MICHAEL BALLACK: Well, of course for now we hope that we qualify. After we’ve managed that, everybody has high expectations. And in recent years we’ve always accomplished them: semi-final, final, European Championship and the World Cup before that. We hope to go that far again and maybe even win.

PROST AMERIKA: What were your impressions of the crowd and of the day today?

MICHAEL BALLACK: It was fantastic to see such a crowd for a friendly. It was impressive – 65,000 for a friendly game

PROST AMERIKA: Like being back at Bayern Munich?

MICHAEL BALLACK: I think we got 69,000! It was a different stadium but impressive as well.

PROST AMERIKA: Has it changed yesterday’s opinion about maybe playing here later in your career?

MICHAEL BALLACK: (laughs) I didn’t say no.

PROST AMERIKA: You said maybe!

MICHAEL BALLACK: Maybe is a lot.

PROST AMERIKA: Are we at probably yet?

MICHAEL BALLACK: I can’t tell you anything now, but as you know there are a lot of football players, for whom it would be really attractive to play in the US soccer league, as you’ve seen. The stadiums are full, the level of play is improving a lot, and of course that’s of interest for European football players.

PROST AMERIKA: All the top Sounders staff and managers are of German heritage. Have you tried to speak to any of them in German?

MICHAEL BALLACK: After the game he (Sigi Schmid) came onto the pitch and we had a few words.

PROST AMERIKA: How is his German?

MICHAEL BALLACK: (chuckles) It’s ok. I could understand.

PROST AMERIKA: Have you seen much of the city of Seattle?

MICHAEL BALLACK: A little bit. After we arrived we had a few hours free. Even now after the game, we’ll have a little free time and everybody will be able to walk a little bit through the city, and we’ll see some more.

PROST AMERIKA: Next year, the Winter Olympics are taking place in Vancouver. Why should German tourists here for the Vancouver Winter Olympics come here to Seattle between Olympic events?

MICHAEL BALLACK: I think Seattle is definitely worth a journey. The past few days we’ve been around here were just wonderful. The weather was great, it (Seattle) is located on a lake and it’s just wonderful to go on a boating excursion, or to just have some distraction from stressful days when you’re doing your practice.