da bet7：
da spicy bet： Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has stated that the London club are not as strong now as when he played for them, and that the team lack mental strength.
Andre Villas Boas’ men have struggled with inconsistency of late, are 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City and face a struggle to progress to the Champions League knockout stages.
Ballack faced his former employers for Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night in a 2-1 victory for the Bundesliga outfit, and felt that their lack of confidence was evident.
“We knew before the game they were in a difficult moment. But it’s only when you play against a team on the pitch that you see what is really happening and get a clearer picture,” he told Mirror Football.
“We could feel it on the pitch every minute – especially at the beginning of the match – that they were not as strong as they normally are.
“Even when they were 1-0 up, we could sense that – that they didn’t have the strength mentally that they normally have,” he stated.
The German midfielder has admitted that the senior players must guide the Stamford Bridge club through this tricky period, and feels they must work hard to achieve their ambitions.
“I don’t know what is going on in the dressing room. When I was there, I was one of the strong characters, but I think there are enough big players, experienced players, still in the dressing room. It wasn’t just me.
“They have to do it now. You can’t just look at the young players and criticise them. This has to come from the older, experienced players – especially now.
“I played four years for Chelsea and I know how quickly it can go. I had a few managers in that short time!
“So I know it is always difficult for the coach. I know he [Villas-Boas] is young and has ambitions and is a good guy. He had success at his last team.
“At the moment, it is not that easy for them. But that is not just about the coach, it is about the players too. They have to get out of this situation.
“You have to get back to your roots, to square one. But with the ambitions they have of course it is harder and they are not matching them,” the veteran concluded.
By Gareth McKnight
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