Ballack bid to avoid Neverkusen repeat

Ballack was the darling of Bayer Leverkusen as they chased a German Treble in 2002, only to blow the lot in a matter of days.

First, they lost the Bundesliga title to Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season, then Schalke beat them 4-2 in the German Cup Final before a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League Final.

'It was the darkest period of my career,' Ballack said. 'We had the chance to make history and we won nothing. It was an amazing 10 days.'

Leverkusen were cruelly dubbed 'Neverkusen', seemingly destined to win nothing.

Two years earlier, they had gone into the last game of the season needing only a point at little Unterhaching to clinch their first Bundesliga title.

But a Ballack own goal led to a 2-0 defeat and Bayern Munich won the League.

Weeks after his Treble disappointment, Ballack inspired Germany to the 2002 World Cup Final. He scored the goals to beat USA in the quarters and South Korea in the semi-final but a booking against the Koreans ruled him out of the final.

'Maybe it's a good omen,' he joked drily in reference to his luckless season, but Germany were beaten by Brazil and his misery was complete.

'It was a terrible summer,' said Ballack. 'But I don't think that will happen to us at Chelsea. We have strong players who know what it takes to win trophies. At Leverkusen it was all new to us.'

Tomorrow's final offers Ballack a chance of his first appearance at Wembley since Germany beat England in the final game at the old stadium in 2000, though he will be sweating on Avram Grant's team selection.

An ankle operation ruled him out of last season's FA Cup Final after he scored the semi-final winner against Blackburn at Old Trafford.

He also missed the Community Shield and Germany's friendly against England last August.

Ballack won the Bundesliga with Kaiserslautern at 21 before sweeping an armful of trophies at Bayern Munich and winning the Carling Cup with Chelsea last year.

Victory against Spurs will inspire debate about the quest for an unprecedented Quadruple, and the 31-year-old German said: 'If you see four you want to win them.

'It will not be easy but we have an unbelievable squad and great potential now everyone is fit.

'But you have to be careful. At Leverkusen we tried to win everything and ended with nothing.'