Ballack already feeling the strain
Michael Ballack has warned Chelsea that the English game is taking its toll on him
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Tuesday, 14, Nov 2006 10:29
Chelsea's German midfielder Michael Ballack has complained of suffering from fatigue just a third of the way into his first Premiership season.
The three-times Bundesliga player of the year has admitted that since arriving in west London he has had to get used to the higher physical demands of the English game.
"I'm not running on reserve just yet but I have reached my limit in terms of the physical demands. We will see what it is like in spring not to have a winter break," he told his native country's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
"Everything is quite new: the surroundings, the team, the level of expectation. At Chelsea all the players are of a high quality.
"The respected and privileged position that I carved for myself in Germany is no longer there. Good performances are crucial. But I'm happy that I took that step."
The former Bayern Munich star arrived at Stamford Bridge on a free transfer after captaining his national side to the World Cup semi-finals.
So far he has netted twice in seven Premiership appearances with his trademark fiery temperament also coming to the fore when he was sent off in the Blues' win over Liverpool.