Exclusive interview with Michael Ballack, part 2

Wednesday, 2008-02-06

Exclusive interview with Michael Ballack, part 2

Webteam: How do you stay in touch with home? For instance, do you use the internet more often than before because you want to learn about what's going on in Germany?

Michael Ballack: Not more often than before, no. We can watch German television and buy German newspapers. What might happen is that I can't find a particular paper, then I'll read this edition online.

Webteam: And what about your own homepage?

Michael Ballack: Oh, I visit that a couple of times per week. After all, I want to know what people are thinking. It's always exciting to read the forum or the guestbook. Sometimes there's criticism voiced, which I think is good, actually, because everyone is entitled to an opinion and should make it heard. And then others will take the floor and defend me. I think that's very interesting.

Webteam: On the occasion of your comeback you said that the encouraging postings in the guestbook were a great help.

Michael Ballack: That really gave me additional motivation. After all, the support of the fans is particularly important during difficult times. It's good to realise that people don't forget you even when you're sidelined for a longer period of time.

Webteam: We've been talking only about yourself so far, but you have taken a family with you to England, and for them this was a big change. Has the family settled down now?

Michael Ballack: Oh yes, my family feels very comfortable here. The two older boys, for example, go to an English school, not to a bilingual one for foreigners. My family is now at home here.

Webteam: Do you still follow the tourist routine, such as going to Madame Tussauds and the Tower and so on?

Michael Ballack: We haven't yet been to the wax museum. That is, I have been there before, together with the Bayern squad. But we do go for trips and try to include the sights in the planning. For example, there are very nice restaurants near Tower Bridge, at the Thames. So you can go out to eat and at the same time see a bit of the city.

Webteam: And what about the numerous sporting events in London? To name just one, have you been to the Wimbledon tennis tournament last year?

Michael Ballack: No, I haven't been to see the tennis in Wimbledon. I might do it this year. The last really big event which I attended was the so-called "Race of Champions" at the new Wembley Stadium, the week before christmas. That's a spectacular motorsport event which is held every year. Michael Schumacher was racing, David Coulthard and many other famous drivers.

Webteam: At the Wembley Stadium? Where you're going to play the Carling Cup final?

Michael Ballack: The cars weren't racing on the pitch, obviously, but on a tarmac track. When we'll be lining up there, the playing surface is going to be in a top condition.

Webteam: Thanks a lot for the conversation, Michael - and all the best for 2008, both at your club and with the national team!


Source, official website of Michael Ballack:
http://www.michael-ballack.com/?103A0A2A100A0A9497

Exclusive interview with Michael Ballack, part 1

Thursday 05.02.08

Exclusive interview with Michael Ballack, part 1

Webteam: Hello Michael! It's taken us quite a long time to get here from the airport. The traffic is insane! Have you gotten used to that by now?

Michael Ballack: Well, yes. You quickly learn to always take traffic jams into account, and then you leave home a lot earlier than normally necessary. But that's what it's like in a big city like this one. That comes with the turf.

Webteam: And driving on the left? Did that take some adjusting to?

Michael Ballack: Not at all, actually. They say you'll only have a problem once you get back to Germany and drive there, and that's also been my experience. As regards driving on the left, you have much more difficulties as a pedestrian here! It's so ingrained in us to first look left when crossing a street that changing this habit isn't easy. Over here, I take the first step, then I remember I should have checked the other side - and by that time the bus is already right in front of me!

Webteam: We've crossed almost the whole city today, from north to south. And we noticed how many quiet, almost rural areas there are.

Michael Ballack: That's true. There are very beautiful corners in the North and the North-West and down here, in South London, it isn't at all hectic, either. But that also goes to make up a big city - that it's got everything. There are a lot of parks even in central London, where you can find peace and quiet.

Webteam: Do you go looking for peace or do you prefer to have fun?

Michael Ballack: Both. The great thing about such a metropolis is that you can always go out. The cultural offers are immense. And you don't have to wait until the weekend to find something interesting. Over here, you could enjoy yourself every single day.

Webteam: And it's probably a lot easier for you to go out than it used to be the case in Germany.

Michael Ballack: No, you can't say that. Actually, it's not at all different from what it was like in Germany. That's precisely because London is such a cosmopolitan city. You'll meet people from all over the world wherever you go, and many of them know who I am and will recognise me after all.

Webteam: Do you have any time to explore the city? After all, you play a lot more games with Chelsea than you were used to from the Bundesliga.

Michael Ballack: Well, there aren't really that many more games, as I usually had two matches per week in Germany as well. And when I was injured, for instance, I had a lot less spare time than I have now. That's because under those circumstances you normally spend more time at the training ground than your team-mates. So the number of games isn't a problem, apart from the fact there is no winter break in England. That means the season is very long and you need to have a large squad. But we have that.

Webteam: Nuremberg's coach Hans Meyer recently suggested the Bundesliga should get rid of the winter break. You're in a position where you can draw comparisons between England and Germany, what do you think about this question?

Michael Ballack: I think the best solution would be to emulate the Spanish. That means having a brief break of ten to fourteen days. That would be ideal. I don't mind playing all through the season - but taking a short time off for christmas and New Year, this is something I'd welcome.

Webteam: As a professional in England, it's indeed impossible to spend that time of year with your family. For instance, what did you do on New Year's Eve?

Michael Ballack: We played Fulham on January, 1st. So I spent New Year's Eve in a hotel. At first I was unaccustomed to the fact seasonal family parties will have to be cancelled. But that's what it's like, you have to live with that.

(The second part of the conversation will be published tomorrow)

Source, Official Website of Michael Ballack:
http://www.michael-ballack.com/?103A0A2A100A0A9476