Michael Ballack | “Alonso’s Leverkusen is great for the Bundesliga and for Bayern”

Up Front

Folding Pocket

Soccer, Football, Sports

4.6 • 778 Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2024

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On today’s episode we are joined by one of the greats of German Football. Born in East Germany at a time of upheaval and division, Michael Ballack went on to become a legend for his country, making 98 appearances and scoring 42 goals.

Through playing street football at an early age, Ballack found his love for the game and knew he wanted to become a pro. He came to prominence at Kaiserslautern and was part of the side that did the unthinkable by winning the Bundesliga in 1997. His impressive performances earned him a move to Bayer Leverkusen and individually he continued to excel, as well as his stock amongst Europe’s elite. Collectively however, they failed to win any silverware following two consecutive years of falling at the last hurdle. Ballack would rectify this though, by joining the Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and win multiple titles and cups.

Still eager for more success and new challenges, he swapped Munich for London, joining Abrahmovic’s revolution at Chelsea in 2006, to play under Jose Mourinho. He’d go on to win the premier league and a series of cups before heading back to Leverkusen in 2010, where he’d finish his career.

Michael joins the show and talks about his football journey, opening up on his time at Leverkusen, the exceptionally high standards at Bayern Munich and playing under Jose Mourinho. He also talks about how Xabi Alonso has brought a winning mentality to Leverkusen and how he’s transformed the club, whilst giving his honest opinion on the German National Side and their realistic prospects for the Euros.

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Warning: this episode contains language that some people may find offensive.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We changed the education as well. We changed the whole speech. You know, it's not just in football, it's a generation problem.
0:07.0	The way we talk to each other, the way we talk in high professional football.
0:11.0	I don't know if we become too soft.
0:14.0	The mental part in sport, it's much bigger than you think. I mean, you know it's big, but it's huge.
0:21.9	Now we're talking about the color of our away jersey, you know?
0:25.3	We're having themes also at the last World Cup,
0:28.1	which are not helping the team to be successful.
0:31.5	That was just a qualifying game.
0:33.7	Doesn't matter. It's still 5-1, and you had to eat it.
0:38.5	This is up front with me, Simon Jordan.
0:40.4	I believe there are a lot of vacuous, uninformed, unchallenged opinions out there.
0:44.2	I want to get to the bottom line and cut through the nonsense.
0:46.8	So on this podcast with William Hill, I'm going to get people with strong views who think
0:50.4	they can stand them up under proper scrutiny.
0:53.0	There's a good chance I might learn something along the way,
0:55.0	but more importantly, so might you.
0:58.8	Joining me in today's episode, one of the greats of German football.
1:02.5	Born in a time of upheaval and division,
1:04.7	he went on to achieve 98 caps for his country,
1:07.4	reaching major finals in the World Cup and Euros.
1:09.9	A multiple Bundesliga winner with
1:11.7	Bayern Munich before mirroring trophy success here on these shores at Chelsea.
	...

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