He’s gone from being one of the so-called ‘Untouchables’ to virtually an unmentionable at Stamford Bridge this season – is there any way back for Michael Ballack?
His honeymoon period with Mourinho is well and truly over and, somewhere between cold stares and sleeping in different rooms, a final separation seems inevitable.
It all started when Ballack went behind the club’s back by traveling to Germany for an illicit operation, which meant he missed the end of last season.
Injuries have held him back again this season and Chelsea haven’t even registered him for the group stage of the Champions League – despite Germany’s coach, Joachim Loew, insisting he could be fit before those games end.
With some of his tepid performances last season we’ve wondered why it’s taken this long. What do you think – will Ballack still be at the Bridge after January?