Ballack fails to shake off 'nearly man' tag as he ends season empty-handed

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Michael Ballack has earned praise in Germany for taking his country to the brink of Euro 2008 success but his efforts to lose his "nearly-man" tag will now start again when Chelsea return for pre-season training.

The 31-year-old midfielder could scarcely have played better in the last six months but ended the campaign empty handed - pipped by Manchester United to the Barclays Premier League and Champions League, then defeated by Spain in Vienna.

Ballack was also a late substitute at Wembley when Tottenham beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup final last season, overlooked by Avram Grant - who was in the Austrian capital watching his former player on Sunday night.

Second best: Michael Ballack has finished runner-up four times this season.

There were echoes of 2002 when he suffered "treble horror" with Bayer Leverkusen by losing the league, cup and Champions League at the end of that season.

He was then famously suspended for the World Cup final, picking up his yellow card just before scoring the winner against South Korea.

Ballack enjoyed huge success at Bayern Munich but the disappointments have been documented in equal measure.

Against Spain at Ernst Happel Stadium he was passed fit after a calf injury, then clashed heads with Marcos Senna and needed a cut above his eye closed up.

One headline from a German daily newspaper read: 'He fought, he bled, he lost. The trauma goes on.'

But Ballack insisted he was proud of Germany's progress through the finals despite the disappointment of defeat.

Ballack said: 'We had a great tournament, but made one mistake too many. We were lacking power against a great Spanish team, we couldn't keep up with them.

'It's always disappointing to lose a final, but we played a great championship. We wanted more, but we couldn't deliver. Still, we can be proud.'