Well well well.....
Just been on the Beeb this morning and it appears that Chelsea have not included Michael Ballack in their European squad for the Champions League group stages. So he wont be playing for them in any of the group games and would be eligible to play for another team in the competition, if he were to move in January. Had he played for Chelsea in the group stages, he would of course be cup tied for future rounds.
Are they doing this because they expect to be shipping him out in the near future, or is there a less sinister explanation for his omission?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Beeb
Chelsea have left Michael Ballack out of their Champions League squad despite the possibility he could be fit to play in four of their six group matches.
The 31-year-old German international had an ankle operation in the summer and on Friday Chelsea decided not to register him for the competition.
That means Ballack, who could be fit by the end of October, cannot play before the knockout stages begin in February.
And that is likely to fuel speculation about Ballack's future at Chelsea.
The Blues submitted their list of players on Friday and felt they could not guarantee that Ballack, who has not played since April, would feature in the majority of the Group B games.
However, Germany coach Joachim Low has said he is hopeful Ballack will be fit to play in his country's Euro 2008 qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland on 13 October.
And if that is the case, Ballack would be fit for all of Chelsea's Champions League matches except September's home tie against Rosenborg and their trip to Valencia on 3 October.
But Chelsea believe that is an unlikely scenario and have decided against the gamble.
A statement from the club read: "We hope Michael's recovery is as quick as possible. "We hope Michael returns to full training soon so that he will then be available for the Champions League latter stages."
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The wheels are falling off the Chelsea bandwagon.
Onwards to 19:6.
Ballack to get the Boot?
