Löw banks on Ballack
On Tuesday, Chelsea's reserves played Queens Park Rangers, winning 4-0. There were some first-team regulars seeing action as they needed match practice, such as Salomon Kalou - and Michael Ballack. The Germany captain was on the pitch for an hour. The next day, he told a Chelsea tv crew: "The toe was broken and I needed a little break of one week, or ten days, but I trained really well during this time in the water and on the bike and now I am happy to be back."
The Blues will contest their first competitive match of the new season on Sunday, when they take on Manchester United for the FA Community Shield, the traditional game between the league champions and the Cup winners. Two days earlier, on Friday, Germany's national coach Joachim Löw will announce his squad for the international against Azerbaijan in Baku on August 12. Naturally, the side's captain will be on board. "I'm constantly in touch with Ballack," Löw said. "He's already training with the team again at Chelsea and so things look good. I assume he'll be available. He has incredible experience and great quality. He is an absolute leader."
