Ballack puts Lampard on the spot

Michael Ballack insisted he is not desperate to take penalty-taking responsibility away from Frank Lampard after his first goal for Chelsea FC enabled his new team to get off to another winning start in the UEFA Champions League.

Lampard pressure
Ballack strode forward when Didier Drogba was impeded going for Michael Essien's cross and thumped in the spot-kick in emphatic style to ease José Mourinho's team through a difficult phase of the game when Werder Bremen were threatening to wipe out Essien's first-half strike. It was a successful conversion, sealing a 2-0 victory, that contrasted with Lampard's own penalty against Charlton Athletic FC at the weekend which was saved.

'Top player'
With such a reknowned set-piece exponent as Ballack now alongside him in the London side's midfield it is clear the England player will come under more pressure to improve on a poor recent strike rate of three missed penalties in four attempts. "We spoke together in the dressing-room and Frank said it was OK if I wanted to take a penalty," Ballack said. "But I am not a player who wants to take every free-kick or penalty, Frank is a top player here and he was successful the last few seasons."

'Formidable partnership'
Against Bremen, Ballack enjoyed one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt so far and clearly relished the opportunity to square up to so many of his team-mates from the FIFA World Cup. With no wide midfielders in Mourinho's selection it was easy to assume the central areas would become congested but the players seem to be working it out well and there is growing evidence of a formidable partnership forming between the two international stars.

'Midfield diamond'
"We can play different systems, with three forward players or with a midfield diamond and it is not difficult because Frank is a good player," added Ballack. "Whether I play left or right, it is the same for me and it is the same for Frank. Michael Essien is also a player who can play all the positions in midfield. He can attack, he can defend and I think for the team that is not a problem. It was good tonight because Bremen played the same way so that meant we could go one v one with them in the middle."

'Good result'
It was the fifth time in five attempts that Chelsea had launched a UEFA Champions League campaign with a victory but there remains concern in the side about their inability to produce a consistent level of performance for 90 minutes. "We started very well in the first half but then after that we dropped deep and stayed too far back and that enabled them to put in some good crosses and create two or three good chances," said Ballack. "It is something we are aware of and have spoken about as a team. We can play better but it is still a good result for us."