Chelsea Football Club News

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

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42,440

Ballack ready for England

22 Mar 2006 - 07:47:23

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Germany captain Michael Ballack has made up his mind to move to the Premiership in the summer after being inspired by the feats of Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.

The 29-year-old midfielder is close to agreeing to join Chelsea when his Bayern Munich contract expires in June and revealed the exciting, physical style of English football was a major factor in him rejecting offers from Spain.

"For me it is the Premiership rather than La Liga," Ballack told the Daily Express.

"I am a very physical player and in England the pace is fast and the tackles are hard.

"If you look at the players that have become legends in England, like Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane, I see a lot of myself in players like that."