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A phrase that many clubs have been saying after 90 minutes regularly this season, including United, Arsenal and Liverpool after their shocking Champions League exits.
Real Madrid could be saying the same thing later tonight, after their encounter with German side Bayer Leverkusen in this season's Champions' League Final.
Like with so many teams in Europe this season, their fate could rely in the hands (or should that be feet?) of Michael Ballack and the rest of the Leverkusen team.
You could simply say that Leverkusen's success and achievements this season are all down to their performances as a team, but if any player has stood out from the rest then it's Ballack.
He's the only German player who I actually have respect for, and I think he has proven that he is the type of player who can really threaten a team alone, and cause absolute mayhem with one or two team-mates in support.
Ever since that game against Germany (Keegan's last in-chagrge of England) i've been playing close attention to this rising star.
In that dissapointing game he made sure it wasn't an entirely happy ending for English football at the original stadium. Sure, it may have been Liverpool's own Dietmar Hamman who surpressed the damage onto us, but Ballack showed true potential and style throughout that match.
I can still today recall some of those confident and skill-full runs that he made tying the England back-line in knots - and from a more defensive central-midfield position also!
He may not have been too ambitious in terms of long-range efforts as such, but he still proved that he was one to watch out for back then.
To be honest i'd never even heard of Michael Ballack back then! It was his outstanding performance in that game that caught my attention, and I only really continued to explore after some memorable games against me in good old Championship Manager.
I usually find that no unknown player performs as-well in reallity as they do in everyone's top Football Manager Sim. But this time I was wrong - very wrong! Ballack turned out (to my surprise) to be one of the best midfielders I have ever seen to have come from the German Leagues!
I haven't seen him play much this season in the Bundesliga, but by looking at Leverkusen's position in the league this season you have to wonder how much of an influence Michael Ballack had on it. I'm sure it was a lot, and that they couldn't have done it without him.
This season, Ballack has really come alive and given European Football a real kick up the backside with some truly dazzeling displays and fancy-footwork.
Leverkusen really started to shine when they beat Arsenal at the end of the Group Stages, making sure the Guners got no further than they had intended! Ballack played a big part in that game. Just like he did against England, he was pulling players around all over the place and making a mocharry of one of the finest and most consistent back four's of the season.
They didn't stop there either. One English club wasn't enough! So they went on into the Quarter Finals and sent Liverpool back home early with an incredible Second Leg for German Football! Not one goal, not 2, and not even 3! Yep, 4 goals scored to shut-out The Kop and send the Germans marching on into the Semi's. Ballack may not have done too much to Arsenal goal-wise, but a header against the Scousers helped add to the pressure and increase the growing reputation of this talented midfielder!
First Liverpool, then Arsenal, and only one English club was missing from the list - Man United. And the 2 met for a fiercely contested battle in the Semi Finals. United gifted Leverkusen more than enough chances and they simply put away the ones that mattered. But without a goal or strong pressure from Ballack, the game was still undecied.
So onto the second leg, on German soil, the one that would decide who goes home crying and who holds back the tears untill they loose it in the final.
Once again, Bayern appeared to have the upper-hand and dominated most of the early stages. They managed to hold on without a Ballack goal once again, but it was his persistence that kept them ahead.
And here we are today. Leverkusen in the Champions Legaue Final for the first time in decades, with a chance to do what every team dreams of - and lift the European Cup!
Ballack has proven that you don't need to be at 'the best' club to make a name for yourself, and that all that hard work and persistence really does pay off. I'm sure that if Leverkusen do win tonight, a lot of the thanks and appreciations will be handed in the direction of Mr.Ballack. Réal won't believe what they see when he's on the ball, and I have to admit that he's come a very long way with his long-range efforts too!
With the great season that he's had he'll be in a fantastic mood this summer, and he could help the German side to become almost 'un-stoppable' as he marches on with his team-mates in search of another final.
England and others had better be aware of the German's this season, and more importabley, look-out for the unknown talents like Michael Ballack!
He may look impressive now, but he's still at a young age. There's a long way still to travel yet, meaning years of potential and danger to be unleahsed!
Watch out! Ballack's about!!
Real Madrid could be saying the same thing later tonight, after their encounter with German side Bayer Leverkusen in this season's Champions' League Final.
Like with so many teams in Europe this season, their fate could rely in the hands (or should that be feet?) of Michael Ballack and the rest of the Leverkusen team.
You could simply say that Leverkusen's success and achievements this season are all down to their performances as a team, but if any player has stood out from the rest then it's Ballack.
He's the only German player who I actually have respect for, and I think he has proven that he is the type of player who can really threaten a team alone, and cause absolute mayhem with one or two team-mates in support.
Ever since that game against Germany (Keegan's last in-chagrge of England) i've been playing close attention to this rising star.
In that dissapointing game he made sure it wasn't an entirely happy ending for English football at the original stadium. Sure, it may have been Liverpool's own Dietmar Hamman who surpressed the damage onto us, but Ballack showed true potential and style throughout that match.
I can still today recall some of those confident and skill-full runs that he made tying the England back-line in knots - and from a more defensive central-midfield position also!
He may not have been too ambitious in terms of long-range efforts as such, but he still proved that he was one to watch out for back then.
To be honest i'd never even heard of Michael Ballack back then! It was his outstanding performance in that game that caught my attention, and I only really continued to explore after some memorable games against me in good old Championship Manager.
I usually find that no unknown player performs as-well in reallity as they do in everyone's top Football Manager Sim. But this time I was wrong - very wrong! Ballack turned out (to my surprise) to be one of the best midfielders I have ever seen to have come from the German Leagues!
I haven't seen him play much this season in the Bundesliga, but by looking at Leverkusen's position in the league this season you have to wonder how much of an influence Michael Ballack had on it. I'm sure it was a lot, and that they couldn't have done it without him.
This season, Ballack has really come alive and given European Football a real kick up the backside with some truly dazzeling displays and fancy-footwork.
Leverkusen really started to shine when they beat Arsenal at the end of the Group Stages, making sure the Guners got no further than they had intended! Ballack played a big part in that game. Just like he did against England, he was pulling players around all over the place and making a mocharry of one of the finest and most consistent back four's of the season.
They didn't stop there either. One English club wasn't enough! So they went on into the Quarter Finals and sent Liverpool back home early with an incredible Second Leg for German Football! Not one goal, not 2, and not even 3! Yep, 4 goals scored to shut-out The Kop and send the Germans marching on into the Semi's. Ballack may not have done too much to Arsenal goal-wise, but a header against the Scousers helped add to the pressure and increase the growing reputation of this talented midfielder!
First Liverpool, then Arsenal, and only one English club was missing from the list - Man United. And the 2 met for a fiercely contested battle in the Semi Finals. United gifted Leverkusen more than enough chances and they simply put away the ones that mattered. But without a goal or strong pressure from Ballack, the game was still undecied.
So onto the second leg, on German soil, the one that would decide who goes home crying and who holds back the tears untill they loose it in the final.
Once again, Bayern appeared to have the upper-hand and dominated most of the early stages. They managed to hold on without a Ballack goal once again, but it was his persistence that kept them ahead.
And here we are today. Leverkusen in the Champions Legaue Final for the first time in decades, with a chance to do what every team dreams of - and lift the European Cup!
Ballack has proven that you don't need to be at 'the best' club to make a name for yourself, and that all that hard work and persistence really does pay off. I'm sure that if Leverkusen do win tonight, a lot of the thanks and appreciations will be handed in the direction of Mr.Ballack. Réal won't believe what they see when he's on the ball, and I have to admit that he's come a very long way with his long-range efforts too!
With the great season that he's had he'll be in a fantastic mood this summer, and he could help the German side to become almost 'un-stoppable' as he marches on with his team-mates in search of another final.
England and others had better be aware of the German's this season, and more importabley, look-out for the unknown talents like Michael Ballack!
He may look impressive now, but he's still at a young age. There's a long way still to travel yet, meaning years of potential and danger to be unleahsed!
Watch out! Ballack's about!!
Page:
i think Michael Ballack is a great player
A phrase that many clubs have been saying after 90 minutes regularly this season, including United, Arsenal and Liverpool after their shocking Champions League exits.
Real Madrid could be saying the same thing later tonight, after their encounter with German side Bayer Leverkusen in this season's Champions' League Final.
Like with so many teams in Europe this season, their fate could rely in the hands (or should that be feet?) of Michael Ballack and the rest of the Leverkusen team.
You could simply say that Leverkusen's success and achievements this season are all down to their performances as a team, but if any player has stood out from the rest then it's Ballack.
He's the only German player who I actually have respect for, and I think he has proven that he is the type of player who can really threaten a team alone, and cause absolute mayhem with one or two team-mates in support.
Ever since that game against Germany (Keegan's last in-chagrge of England) i've been playing close attention to this rising star.
In that dissapointing game he made sure it wasn't an entirely happy ending for English football at the original stadium. Sure, it may have been Liverpool's own Dietmar Hamman who surpressed the damage onto us, but Ballack showed true potential and style throughout that match.
I can still today recall some of those confident and skill-full runs that he made tying the England back-line in knots - and from a more defensive central-midfield position also!
He may not have been too ambitious in terms of long-range efforts as such, but he still proved that he was one to watch out for back then.
To be honest i'd never even heard of Michael Ballack back then! It was his outstanding performance in that game that caught my attention, and I only really continued to explore after some memorable games against me in good old Championship Manager.
I usually find that no unknown player performs as-well in reallity as they do in everyone's top Football Manager Sim. But this time I was wrong - very wrong! Ballack turned out (to my surprise) to be one of the best midfielders I have ever seen to have come from the German Leagues!
I haven't seen him play much this season in the Bundesliga, but by looking at Leverkusen's position in the league this season you have to wonder how much of an influence Michael Ballack had on it. I'm sure it was a lot, and that they couldn't have done it without him.
This season, Ballack has really come alive and given European Football a real kick up the backside with some truly dazzeling displays and fancy-footwork.
Leverkusen really started to shine when they beat Arsenal at the end of the Group Stages, making sure the Guners got no further than they had intended! Ballack played a big part in that game. Just like he did against England, he was pulling players around all over the place and making a mocharry of one of the finest and most consistent back four's of the season.
They didn't stop there either. One English club wasn't enough! So they went on into the Quarter Finals and sent Liverpool back home early with an incredible Second Leg for German Football! Not one goal, not 2, and not even 3! Yep, 4 goals scored to shut-out The Kop and send the Germans marching on into the Semi's. Ballack may not have done too much to Arsenal goal-wise, but a header against the Scousers helped add to the pressure and increase the growing reputation of this talented midfielder!
First Liverpool, then Arsenal, and only one English club was missing from the list - Man United. And the 2 met for a fiercely contested battle in the Semi Finals. United gifted Leverkusen more than enough chances and they simply put away the ones that mattered. But without a goal or strong pressure from Ballack, the game was still undecied.
So onto the second leg, on German soil, the one that would decide who goes home crying and who holds back the tears untill they loose it in the final.
Once again, Bayern appeared to have the upper-hand and dominated most of the early stages. They managed to hold on without a Ballack goal once again, but it was his persistence that kept them ahead.
And here we are today. Leverkusen in the Champions Legaue Final for the first time in decades, with a chance to do what every team dreams of - and lift the European Cup!
Ballack has proven that you don't need to be at 'the best' club to make a name for yourself, and that all that hard work and persistence really does pay off. I'm sure that if Leverkusen do win tonight, a lot of the thanks and appreciations will be handed in the direction of Mr.Ballack. Réal won't believe what they see when he's on the ball, and I have to admit that he's come a very long way with his long-range efforts too!
With the great season that he's had he'll be in a fantastic mood this summer, and he could help the German side to become almost 'un-stoppable' as he marches on with his team-mates in search of another final.
England and others had better be aware of the German's this season, and more importabley, look-out for the unknown talents like Michael Ballack!
He may look impressive now, but he's still at a young age. There's a long way still to travel yet, meaning years of potential and danger to be unleahsed!
Watch out! Ballack's about!!
Real Madrid could be saying the same thing later tonight, after their encounter with German side Bayer Leverkusen in this season's Champions' League Final.
Like with so many teams in Europe this season, their fate could rely in the hands (or should that be feet?) of Michael Ballack and the rest of the Leverkusen team.
You could simply say that Leverkusen's success and achievements this season are all down to their performances as a team, but if any player has stood out from the rest then it's Ballack.
He's the only German player who I actually have respect for, and I think he has proven that he is the type of player who can really threaten a team alone, and cause absolute mayhem with one or two team-mates in support.
Ever since that game against Germany (Keegan's last in-chagrge of England) i've been playing close attention to this rising star.
In that dissapointing game he made sure it wasn't an entirely happy ending for English football at the original stadium. Sure, it may have been Liverpool's own Dietmar Hamman who surpressed the damage onto us, but Ballack showed true potential and style throughout that match.
I can still today recall some of those confident and skill-full runs that he made tying the England back-line in knots - and from a more defensive central-midfield position also!
He may not have been too ambitious in terms of long-range efforts as such, but he still proved that he was one to watch out for back then.
To be honest i'd never even heard of Michael Ballack back then! It was his outstanding performance in that game that caught my attention, and I only really continued to explore after some memorable games against me in good old Championship Manager.
I usually find that no unknown player performs as-well in reallity as they do in everyone's top Football Manager Sim. But this time I was wrong - very wrong! Ballack turned out (to my surprise) to be one of the best midfielders I have ever seen to have come from the German Leagues!
I haven't seen him play much this season in the Bundesliga, but by looking at Leverkusen's position in the league this season you have to wonder how much of an influence Michael Ballack had on it. I'm sure it was a lot, and that they couldn't have done it without him.
This season, Ballack has really come alive and given European Football a real kick up the backside with some truly dazzeling displays and fancy-footwork.
Leverkusen really started to shine when they beat Arsenal at the end of the Group Stages, making sure the Guners got no further than they had intended! Ballack played a big part in that game. Just like he did against England, he was pulling players around all over the place and making a mocharry of one of the finest and most consistent back four's of the season.
They didn't stop there either. One English club wasn't enough! So they went on into the Quarter Finals and sent Liverpool back home early with an incredible Second Leg for German Football! Not one goal, not 2, and not even 3! Yep, 4 goals scored to shut-out The Kop and send the Germans marching on into the Semi's. Ballack may not have done too much to Arsenal goal-wise, but a header against the Scousers helped add to the pressure and increase the growing reputation of this talented midfielder!
First Liverpool, then Arsenal, and only one English club was missing from the list - Man United. And the 2 met for a fiercely contested battle in the Semi Finals. United gifted Leverkusen more than enough chances and they simply put away the ones that mattered. But without a goal or strong pressure from Ballack, the game was still undecied.
So onto the second leg, on German soil, the one that would decide who goes home crying and who holds back the tears untill they loose it in the final.
Once again, Bayern appeared to have the upper-hand and dominated most of the early stages. They managed to hold on without a Ballack goal once again, but it was his persistence that kept them ahead.
And here we are today. Leverkusen in the Champions Legaue Final for the first time in decades, with a chance to do what every team dreams of - and lift the European Cup!
Ballack has proven that you don't need to be at 'the best' club to make a name for yourself, and that all that hard work and persistence really does pay off. I'm sure that if Leverkusen do win tonight, a lot of the thanks and appreciations will be handed in the direction of Mr.Ballack. Réal won't believe what they see when he's on the ball, and I have to admit that he's come a very long way with his long-range efforts too!
With the great season that he's had he'll be in a fantastic mood this summer, and he could help the German side to become almost 'un-stoppable' as he marches on with his team-mates in search of another final.
England and others had better be aware of the German's this season, and more importabley, look-out for the unknown talents like Michael Ballack!
He may look impressive now, but he's still at a young age. There's a long way still to travel yet, meaning years of potential and danger to be unleahsed!
Watch out! Ballack's about!!
Page: