Chelsea Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Roberto Di Matteo

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42,440

Ballack close to return

25 Oct 2007 - 16:32:08

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Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack is confident he will return to action before the end of the year and has reiterated his desire to remain at Stamford Bridge.

The Germany international has had two ankle operations since sustaining the injury in April.

Ballack told Germany's Premiere TV: "It looks good for my comeback. I expect that I will be fit again and be playing this year.

"The problem was that I was told the injury would take three or four weeks so I kept working towards my comeback every week and waited for the pain to ease. That took a while.

"It is always frustrating for a player if you don't know when the injury is healed.

"But I am thinking positive right now because the pain is almost gone."

When asked whether he wanted to leave Chelsea, he added: Why should I leave? I never said I was unhappy at Chelsea.

"It's nobody's fault that I am injured. The break will be over and things will continue."