Declaration about Chelsea vs Mancherster United 2-1: Ballack: anything is possible

Declaration about Chelsea vs Mancherster United 2-1: Ballack: anything is possible
28.04.08

Michael Ballack believes all pressure is now on Manchester United after Saturday's 2-1 win put us on level points with the league rivals.

The German midfielder can relate to losing a title on the last day of the season after his side Bayer Leverkusen lost out to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich and feels this could now be the fate bestowed upon Manchester United.

'Last week they had a five-point lead and now we have closed the gap. They still have everything in their hands but the pressure is on them,' said Ballack.

'It looked like they were champions, but now it's getting smaller and tighter.

'In 2000 I was in a similar situation at Leverkusen, but we were the ones leading and Bayern Munich caught us.

'In the last game we were three points in front, but lost the game and the title. It can happen up to the last minute.

'We have the same points now and two games to play so everything is possible,' added the German.

The double goal-scorer said the victory was for more than just equal place at the top of the league, and with one major part of the midfield line-up missing, there was a dedication to be made.

After Ballack headed Chelsea's opener beyond the reach of Edwin van der Sar, the Blues ran to the bench and collected a specially printed shirt for Frank Lampard's late mother Pat, who sadly passed away last week, and dedicated the goal to her memory.

'The victory is for Frank and his family, it is a difficult time for everybody, especially his family, so we do not forget this,' explained Ballack.

'Everybody supported it [the goal celebration], it is a difficult time and it is a little thing, but we do what we can do. Our thoughts and victory are for him.'

With such a fantastic performance in memory of a much-loved Chelsea fan, Saturday's game proved to be the perfect way to silence the critics who believe the Blues may have lost our way.

'We are happy, it was a nice day for us, great weather, great victory and that is what we wanted, a little chance to win the title and we are back now.

'In the first half we played very well, we controlled the game and in the early minutes we had two very good chances and we deserved the 1-0.

'Especially in the first half we played well. Passed the ball with not just long balls, we moved the ball very good and we showed we can play football.

'After that Man United came a little bit better in the game, but after the 1-1, which was a big mistake for us, they didn't really have any chances.

'They had no one shoot on-goal, so we dominated the game.'

It was a Michael Carrick handball that gave Ballack the opportunity to take the lead back for the Blues with a penalty in the 86th minute, but, despite all eyes in Stamford Bridge bearing down on the number 13, he was unaffected by the pressure.

'I am used to it [the pressure]. I think I have taken a lot of important penalties in my career and this was a big situation. But it is no problem for me, I like this situation.

'I can handle the pressure, there is always a good situation if you are under pressure, I like this.'

With all this talk of pressure, anticipation begins to build as the midfielder looks ahead to Wednesday's Champions League clash against Liverpool.

'A win gives us confidence, we have it and we have shown that we can play very well but on Wednesday it is a very different game, it is the Champions League.

'So on Wednesday we are expecting a very different fight.

'But I think we look fresh, we look better than all other teams have in the Champions League now, so we will see. We want to get to the final,' finished Ballack.

Source:
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