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Ballack keen on Lampard duet
01/02/2008 07:58 - (SA)
Portsmouth - Michael Ballack has denied claims he cannot play in the same Chelsea team as Frank Lampard as the England midfielder readies his comeback for the weekend trip to Portsmouth.
Lampard has been absent from the first-team fold for the past nine games with a thigh injury which has coincided with Ballack's renaissance as he has fought back from injury and hit the goal trail.
Ballack's return to fitness has earned him a recall to the German national team for the first time in ten months and the former Bayern Munich midfielder insists that, despite their similarities, he and Lampard can operate in tandem.
Ballack said: "Frank is a very good player and we need him. We will have one more option when he is back and we hope that is soon.
"He has scored goals and it is not about him, or me or anyone else in midfield. It is always good to have good players in your team.
"I have no problems playing with anybody. It is better to have a good player by your side than a bad one. We played a lot of games together and it is not a problem."
Lampard's absence has also seen Avram Grant's side picking up nine straight wins as they quietly keep chase with league leaders Manchester United.
Despite this efficiency though Grant has called for Chelsea to be more ruthless in front of goal if they are to hang on to the coat tails of Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
The West London side totally dominated lowly Reading on Wednesday night but finished with a winning margin of just one goal from Ballack despite a host of chances.
The 15-million-pound introduction of Nicolas Anelka has given Chelsea more teeth in attack, as Didier Drogba continues his African Nations progress with the Ivory Coast, but Grant still wants to see more from his title-challengers.
Grant, returning to Portsmouth after a season spent as technical director, said: "I was very pleased with the Reading result but we should have scored more goals.
"We created a lot of chances one-on-one and their goalkeeper was great but it more that we missed. I hope in other games we will not miss as many but I will be happy if we try to create but we still need to score.
"If we create so many chances we want to score more but it is good that we keep on winning - that is the key."
Portsmouth host Chelsea on the back of their 2-0 mauling at Manchester United in which the scoreline barely told the story of the game.
Harry Redknapp's side still remain on course for a Uefa Cup place but are yet to claim a 'big four' scalp this season.
- AFP
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