"Chelsea do not buy titles" Ballack

[Beckhams]

"Chelsea do not buy titles" Ballack

15th October 2006

Germany midfielder Michael Ballack insists that if Chelsea win the Champions League this season their achievement should not be denigrated because of the millions they have spent on buying big stars.

Ballack joined the Blues on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in the summer, along with £30million striker Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan.

The double acquisition was seen as a further sign of coach Jose Mourinho's increasing desire to win the Champions League for the second time in his career.

Already a winner with Porto, Mourinho is determined to repeat the feat at Stamford Bridge - and has utilised the millions provided by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to good effect.

But Chelsea's success in winning the Barclays Premiership for the last two seasons has brought accusations that Abramovich 'bought' the title with his seemingly unlimited spending power.

[Basque Boy]

Tough to argue he hasn't bought the titles. Then again, which team doesn't these days? Not too many that is for sure.

[shevchenko]

Chelsea has a good squad and spent a lot for some new players...yet they had a great squad before...all they did was make it a lot better with a lot of cash