Michael Ballack's cruel summer keeps Chelsea dreams in touch with reality

As Chelsea’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple begins with the Carling Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, Michael Ballack has given his team-mates a timely reminder of the perils of overambition. Those who shoot for the stars can sometimes find themselves in the gutter, to paraphrase the Germany midfield player.
Ballack was the star player in the Bayer Leverkusen side that will be for ever remembered as “neverkusen” after losing out on the Bundesliga, German cup and Champions League in little more than a week six years ago, before recovering to lead Germany to an unexpected place in the 2002 World Cup final, where they lost to Brazil. To make matters worse, Ballack was prevented from playing in the final because of suspension, so it is little surprise that he describes an unforgettable summer as the lowest point of his career.
“It’s very difficult to compete for everything, it’s a dream to win all four, and I don’t think any team has ever done it,” Ballack said. “In four weeks I lost the Bundesliga, the German cup, the Champions League and the World Cup. It was the darkest period of my career. We had the chance to make history and won nothing. It was three times second. To have won the title with Leverkusen would have been very historic because it is a small club. And we had the chance to win all three with the club before going to Japan and Korea with Germany.
“It was an amazing ten days. We lost the championship on the last day of the season. Three days later we lost the cup final and then just four days after that we were beaten by Real Madrid at Hampden Park in the Champions League final. I thought maybe it could not get worse and then I was suspended for the World Cup final and the team lost to Brazil. It was a terrible summer. A memory that I don’t want to think about and I really hope that will not happen to me and my team-mates at Chelsea.”
Ballack is convinced that Chelsea could not implode in such a manner because of the experience and strength of their squad, but is still guarding against complacency. “We tried to win everything but ended with nothing, so you have to be careful,” he said. “In the end you have to concentrate on one or two always a little bit more. When you know what it takes to win a title it makes you stronger for the next time you compete. That is what we have at Chelsea and so I’m not worried that we will end the season without a trophy.”
Ballack’s point is emphasised by the range of options available to Avram Grant, the Chelsea first-team coach, as his entire squad is fit for the first time. Ashley Cole is likely to be the most high-profile casualty, with Grant ready to reward Wayne Bridge for his excellent form in the competition this season at left back by condemning his England team-mate to missing out on his third successive cup final after his FA and Carling Cup disappointments last season.
Frank Lampard returns after being rested for the Champions League trip to Olympiacos, but John Terry is still sweating on his place as Grant sends out the message that no one is untouchable. “These decisions are not easy,” Grant said. “JT is a great captain even when he’s not playing and was a good influence in the dressing-room on Tuesday. But Alex and \ Carvalho have been very good together and I have to do what is best for the team. John and Frank were injured with the club, not playing with their kids, and I will not punish them, but I have to think about the players who got us to the final.”