Ballack stays and Carlo quits

Breaking news this afternoon: Michael Ballack has signed a one year contract extension at the club. A slight surprise, this one: there’s been plenty of speculation that 08/09 might be his last year at the club. He certainly hasn’t had his best season – from my perspective he’s always looked half a yard off the pace – but I think on balance he’s worth another year. On song he’s the footballing equivalent of a Rolls Royce but, aside from his ability, I’d like to see him get another chance at winning the Champions League. For a player of his quality to have missed out on the biggest trophies in football is a travesty.

 

More significant, Carlo Ancelotti has left AC Milan ‘by mutual consent’. Technically I suppose he could still join another club (Real Madrid?), but I’d lay money on the journalists being proved right and him being unveiled as Chelsea manager tomorrow.

 

I’m no expert on Italian football, but he would seem a strange choice for a number of reasons:

1. One Scudetto during his tenure isn’t a good enough return for a club of Milan’s stature and with the players they’ve had available – points deductions or no. Making a more effective challenge for the premiership is what the fans will prioritise next season – if not Abramovich

2. Roman supposedly wants the team to play more attractive football. Italian teams and coaches aren’t renowned for their style and flair, and Ancelotti’s Milan have been criticised by fans this season for their negativity

3. The importance of speaking English – does Ancelotti speak it well enough and does it matter?

4. The comments he made in his autobiography. Leaked last week, Ancelotti's comments seem both unprofessional and misguided. Surely it's a gross misjudgement to reveal the club's negotiations with prospective managers? Worse still, he states that during discussions Roman Abramovich said the team had no character or 'identity'. How will this make the players feel? Does the boss want this in the public domain? Furthermore, no openly slate Mourinho won't help him win over the fans. Good start, Carlo. The Telegraph wrote a good overview of all these autobiography comments - you can read that article here.

Of course, he has won two European Cups – something not many others have achieved. Sure I’ll post more on the subject if and when his appointment is announced...