Michael Ballack and Joe Cole Leave Chelsea Amidst Mixed Reactions

For many of us this has come as a news which could be best described as a "curate’s egg." Personally, for me it came as a shock but I knew that it was coming, so at least the shock was minus the surprise factor.

News channels are flooded with this topic and it really pains me to see how media goes against us. Forget the biased British media even the Indian NDTV described Chelsea as “rude” in releasing the duo.

We are sure that Ancellotti wanted both of them to stay, despite Joey failing to fit into the boss’s tactical nuances. And we are also sure that it is solely Roman’s decision to let them go.

Economically, Ballack came for free and left for free, and Joey had cost us around 6 million, but both of them had fetched us billions and for that we would always remain thankful. Had we renewed Joey’s contract we could have been benefited despite his greedy measures.

Buying a new substitute is a way more expensive than increasing the wage of the one who is already a player. But the increase would cause turmoil in the wages of Chelsea players, and this was what Roman wanted the last.

If I had been Joey, I would have accepted the offer (£90,000 a week) and proved my worth on the field, thereby getting a raise in the salary. But it is the question of paying him so high to probably warm the bench, as well as the willingness of Joey to warm the bench. I think the player of his caliber deserves to be in the starting 11.

Ballack’s case is bit different. Adidas is one of Chelsea's main sponsors and Ballack’s departure might distance Adidas from Chelsea. It is not that we are relying solely on the German sportswear company, but why would we not like anything which comes as a complementary?

So don’t be surprised if our kit might have Nike’s logo within few seasons’ time. I would fancy the beloved Umbro, though.

Ballack’s wage is higher (£130,000 a week) than Joey’s, and he was pretty happy even to take a wage cut last season. He was also happy to extend and was hopeful that it would happen at the current wage rate. But Roman thought that it was too high a stake.

We know they were given new wages, but it still fell below their expectations. We don’t know how much Chelsea offered, but logically we could have given Joey 100,000 and Ballack 110,000 (another wage cut) and if they wanted more, then off they go.

I feel that is what actually happened. Nico, the unsung hero, gets only 90,000 and he is happy with that. Are English and Germans greedier?

However, we need not bother much that they have left because Roman is going to buy and he will be his generous self. What we might miss will be Joey’s creativity and Ballack’s experience, but if it came at a too little too high a cost, then Roman did the right thing.

Maybe Roman want to rekindle his chance on the Champions League which had evaded him for so long and may be Ballack and Joey played their part to cause the evasion, may be!

Joey refused to comment on his future and stressed that he is solely focused on the World Cup. And yes, his performance in England’s shirt in the coming weeks would determine his future.

But it is obvious that he is going to ignite a war amongst the probable suitors: Redknapp, Wenger, Fergusson, Mancini, amongst others. I fear that he would join one of our arch rivals and take revenge on us, but revenge and Chelsea do not go well when you are not a Chelsea player!

Ballack expressed his sadness and I think he is right. He pointed at Roman as the one who made the decision and vowed to prove him wrong.

He said, “I’m even more determined to carry on since I’ve been injured and the motivation is growing inside me every single day.” And I can see the heaviness (of the pun) in the word “injured” and am sure Roman got it too!

Ballack was grateful to Chelsea and the fans and said, “Chelsea was always my first choice as I had four great years at the club and enjoyed every minute, but it was not to be. It’s still my first choice, even now, but it was not up to me. The decision was down to Roman.” He is quite straightforward and it is so nice of him to acknowledge Chelsea.

He sums it up his departure message here. “I loved the club. They always made me feel welcome and there was a special atmosphere in the team. We won three FA Cups and the Premier League in four years, but winning the Double this season was unbelievable as it was a real piece of history. Chelsea do not have the history of Liverpool or Manchester United but are growing as a club. I wish them well for the future.”

We, as fans, are bothered about Chelsea and not about the past, and these two are  in the past now. But if it is money, rather the lack of it, that they had to leave us, I doubt if there would be any person willing to meet their costly demand.

And even if they got it it won’t be more than a mere addition to what we tabled for them. Joey might get it from Man City or Tottenham while Ballack seems probable to join Real or land up in Bundesliga, Wolfsburg being the first German suitor.

Whatever happens, let us all wish them a good luck in their career and once again thank them for their service. Joey’s flick against Man U and Ballack’s gunning down (doing exactly what we all would have done) of that Norwegian wanker would remain as two sweetest moments of the most recent times. If you wish, you can recollect as many as you can, you won’t have to look hard!

In addition, let us all take time to express our gratitude to Juliano Belletti. May he have good time back in his Samba land.