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After the end of the season Chelsea Football Club are looking for a new manager. Pundits are calling for owner Roman Abramovich to appoint Roberto di Matteo manager after he led them to Champions League glory. But the owner is desperately trying to sign former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola despite the Spaniard's reluctance to take a job so soon after he quit as Barca manager.
After failing to sign Pep Guardiola,Roman Abramovich has decided to overlook Roberto di Matteo for the managerial position and shockingly appoint former Chelsea player Michael Ballack as manager.
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It is said that Ballack was ready to quit playing professional football after suffering with injury problems and he thought that he didn't have it in him to play at the highest level. Many football pundits view this as a move by Abramovich to fill the void until Pep Guardiola is ready to come out of his break from football.
The newly appointed manager had a meeting with Abramovich right before his formal introduction to the press.
Michael Ballack:So,Roman,I was wondering if we could develop the facilities for our youth players. It would certainly help us develop our own players with our own philosophy instead of splashing the cash and having players not fit in.
Roman Abramovich: That does make sense. I'll have the work started on it soon.
Michael Ballack: And also, I was wondering if we still had any money for transfers left. We did spend a whole lot of money during the summer, so I would accept if there wasn't any, but I'd like to plug some gaps in the squad so we don't suffer majorly if any of our players get injured.
Roman Abramovich: Well, as a new manager, I respect that you'd want to make some of your own purchases, as well as selling some players that don't fit into your system. I will offer you £28m to buy players, as long as you get us to 4th place or better in the league.
Michael Ballack : That's very generous of you Roman. I'll make sure it doesn't go to waste.
Dozens of reporters and cameramen assembled before Roman Abramovich and the directors of the club as they announced that Michael Ballack had been appointed new manager of Chelsea Football Club. It was revealed that the former midfielder had signed a two-year contract with the club.
Reporter: Mr. Ballack, you're back to the club as a manager after you left as a player. How does it feel?
Michael Ballack: I'm delighted. It's a wonderful feeling to return to my favourite club. It feels like a dream.
Reporter: After the owner had bought so many players for the club, are you going to make further purchases?
Michael Ballack : That hasn't been decided as of yet. But it's unlikely there will be major changes, especially to the starting 11. If we do make buys, it will probably be to plug holes and get some extra reinforcements.
Reporter:The last question Mr. Ballack. What is your philosophy as a manager?
Michael Ballack : I want to play attractive and attacking football. Possession is nice, but what matters is what you do with it and the number of chances you create. And with all the creative midfielders we have currently I think we are capable to do just that.
After discussing several targets with assistant manager Roberto di Matteo, Ballack sent in his list of players to the Director of Football for him to open negotiations with clubs.
This is what the list read.
1> Lars Bender - Central/Defensive midfielder - Bayer Leverkusen
With all the attacking midfielders we have, we need to have some with a defensive outlook as we only have Mikel as of now. Bender is fairly young - 23 - and is a true ball winner.
2> Seydou Doumbia - Striker - CSKA Moscow
Right now, it isn't possible to predict whether or not Fernando Torres will get back to his goalscoring days and our only other option for a striker is Daniel Sturridge. In case Torres does not get back to form, it would seriously hamper our ability to score goals. So its crucial to get another striker in.
3> Alan Dzagoev - CSKA Moscow and
4> Josep Ilicic - Palermo - Attacking Midfielders
With our formation most likely to contain 2 or 3 attacking midfielders, we need some reinforcements. These players have good ability and both are fairly young and will have a good sell-on value in the future as well.
4> Michal Kadlec - Bayer Leverkusen - Left Back - Ashley Cole is getting a bit old and may not have the stamina to play 50 games a season. Kadlec would be a quality deputy for him.
5> Nicolas Otamendi - FC Porto - Centre Back - John Terry is getting on a bit now as well and is a bit injury prone. Nicolas is a quality defender and our scouts say that he has a £13m release clause we can exploit.
6> Yaya Sanogo - AJ Auxerre - Striker - A good young prospect for the future at only age 18.
Ballack drove into the parking lot of the training ground and all the players noticed him from the field.
He walked up to the players as they assembled in line.
Michael Ballack : Well, it's good to be back. I know some of you from my time as a player here. I hope that we can get along well and have a successful season. I'll be in my office now, I'll want to speak to you about what your roles will be at the club so you can decide whether or not you would like to stay. Continue training for now - I'll send word through Roberto when I want to speak to you.
One by one the players went and spoke to the manager, and most of them went back to the training satisfied.
The next player on the list was Frank Lampard.
Michael Ballack : Sit down Frank.
Lampard pulled up his chair and sat down.
Michael Ballack : Now, I'm going to be frank. You're 33 and we've already have many young midfielders like Eden and Oscar. You will probably only have a bit-part role to play.
Frank Lampard : Well, Michael, I still want one mega-bucks move after my career here. As a footballer you can only earn money for so long - we aren't lawyers or anything - I'm sure you know that. Playing a bit-part role will only reduce my value and the amount I will be offered once I leave. I think it is better if I leave now. I love the club but I have to make a professional decision at this point.
Michael Ballack : I understand.
Frank Lampard : My agent has told me that LA Galaxy are very interested in signing me. I met up with David Beckham in the States and he has persuaded me to come there. I was only planning on a move next year, but I'll have to make a move now. I hope you won't block the move by demanding a large transfer fee?
Michael Ballack : Not at all. You're a legend at this club and we don't want to trouble you in any way. We'll let you leave on a free if you can agree a move there.
Frank Lampard : Thanks. I'll be off then.
Chelsea had sent a notice to clubs indicating the availability of some of their players who weren't happy at the role offered by the new manager.
Brazilian midfielder Ramires and young left-back Ryan Bertrand were attracting interest from Sunderland while Juventus were reported to be gathering funds to make a bid for winger Florent Malouda.
Media continued to speculate about the future of Frank Lampard who may make a switch to the MLS and link up with David Beckham at LA Galaxy.
Veteran full-back Paulo Ferreira is wanted by Atletico Madrid, according to reports in Spain.
It appears as though Frank Lampard's move to the MLS has broken down as the American club has been unable to sell one of their three designated players and hence has been unable to sign Lampard. Chelsea were willing to let Lampard go on a free.
But shockingly Premier League rivals Manchester City and United are interested in whisking away the 33-year-old England international to Manchester. It remains to be seen if Chelsea are willing to sell to a rival, and if they are, to which side of Manchester Lampard would be headed.
BREAKING NEWS
Chelsea icon Frank Lampard has signed for Manchester City for a fee reported to be in the region of £17million pounds. Chelsea were reluctant to sell Lampard to a rival, but a big offer for a thirty-three year old seemed to be too good to pass for the Chelsea management.
Fans all around are distraught at the decision to sell the English international, as he was a key figure at the club for many years and an icon for the fans.
Chelsea have announced the signing of several players to add to their already huge summer transfer spree.
Nicolas Otamendi, Michal Kadlec, Alan Dzagoev, Josep Ilicic, Seydou Doumbia, Lars Bender, Beram Kayal and Yaya Sanogo have signed for the club.
Chelsea also previously announced the departures of Ryan Bertrand, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda and Paulo Ferreira from the club.
After discussions with Roberto di Matteo, Michael Ballack decided on two formations that would be the best use for the club's players.
Formation 1 - 4-2-3-1 Narrow
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Formation 2 - 4-2-3-1 Wide
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St. Mirren 0 - 2 Chelsea
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36' Seydou Doumbia
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45+4' Sturridge
Not as good a performance as the previous game. Hope it doesn't happen too often though. Eden Hazard has picked up an injury which will put him out for 5-6 weeks.
Charlton 1 - 4 Chelsea
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10' David Luiz
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18' Fernando Torres
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36' and 64' Lars Bender
Disappointing first half performance as we did not have enough possession and also conceded a goal. Two strikes from Bender from 25-35 yards out ensured we had a comfortable victory.
Dzagoev out for 2-3 weeks.
Rangers 0 - 3 Chelsea
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1' Fernando Torres
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20' and 37' Victor Moses
Could have asked for slightly better, but still happy we didn't concede. Defense was a bit sloppy.
Doumbia out for 2-3 days only but unfortunately Torres out for 4-5 weeks.
Really enjoyable read mate. Very surprised you sold Ramires though, but keep up the Story as i will definitely be following
F.A COMMUNITY SHIELD
WEMBLEY STADIUM
The two teams walked out onto the turf of Wembley Stadium, each hoping to add another trophy to their cabinet. City had won the league last season and us the F.A cup to get here.
Formation 4-2-3-1 Wide
Unfortunately for us, some key players such as Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres were injured so we had to use our alternate formation as we only had 3 fit central attacking midfielders.
Both teams' defense was very good - totally different to each other - but totally effective, and that meant that goals were not going to be easy to come by.
Our Zonal marking system proved effective as we made many interceptions and didn't allow City to get past us. David Luiz was exceptional.
City though played somewhat like Stoke. They were very physical and made many fouls which didn't allow us to play. When we made a pass to a player, he was closed down by 2-3 players and we lost the ball.
28' - Mata dribbles past Richards and crosses for Doumbia who slides in trying to put it in the corner. But Joe Hart rushes out and blocks the attempt.
36' - Ashley Cole puts in a superb cross for Doumbia but the Ivorian is closed down quickly.
54' - Edin Dzeko is put through on goal by Nasri but the onrushing Cech blocks the shot.
67' - Moses crosses into the box for Marin but Garcia and Lescott knock the ball out of the box to Mikel. Mikel plays a simple pass to Mata who in one turn turns past Garcia and Lescott and slots in into the bottom left corner past Joe Hart whose view was obstructed. ![]()
GOAL!
89' - Nastasic heads just high from a corner.
It stayed that way as Chelsea won the Community Shield - giving the first win of the season, as well as the first trophy of his managerial career to Michael Ballack./
You are reading "Ballack is Back! A Chelsea F.C Story".
10' - Oscar tripped on the right edge of the penalty box. The referee points to the spot. Fernando Torres steps up and slots it in the top left corner.