Jose Mourinho has followed up public confirmation that his rift with the Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is repaired by suggesting that one of the club's most eye-catching signings, Michael Ballack, will no longer be considered "untouchable" when the season begins next month.
Ballack was one of nine players, alongside Claude Makelele, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech, whom Mourinho had publicly identified as integral to his selections last season.
However, after an inconsistent first season it appears that the free-transfer signing from Bayern Munich will no longer enjoy such status.
The 30-year-old is missing his club's pre-season tour of the United States, which began with a 2-1 win over Club America on Saturday, as he continues his rehabilitation having twice undergone surgery on an ankle problem sustained towards the end of last season.
Indeed, Mourinho had been frustrated to learn that the German had had the first of those operations during the run-in and has made it clear that the player starts "from zero" when he returns to training.
"You asked me about Ballack? What I can say is that he's a player I like," said Mourinho. "I like him very much. But his life is not easy. Like (for) the other people, life is not easy. We have a lot of good players. I'm not the kind of coach that gives places to people just because they are faces or names.
"Everybody with me has to fight for his place. But I think they have a difficult task because the squad is really good. But Ballack is injured so when he comes back he will start from zero and will face some of the other boys already in top condition and playing football, so I don't think it will be easy for him."
Chelsea supporters will be relieved at news that Mourinho met Abramovich this month with the differences of opinion which so unsettled the club last season now apparently a thing of the past. Until that meeting at Stamford Bridge, the pair had spoken just once in 2007 with the fractious nature of their relationship appearing to push them towards divorce.
"I had a very good and long meeting with him (Abramovich)," said Mourinho, who has now bought a property in London. "I think it's better, one very good and long meeting than 10 short and bad. There are no doubts. I know what he thinks, I know what he feels, I know what he wants. He knows me as a person, he knows me as a manager, he knows the way I work. The air was cleared."
The management, though, have also delivered a blunt reminder to Andriy Shevchenko that he will have to impress to feature. With Mourinho intent upon playing with two wingers most likely in a 4-3-3 system, the Ukrainian faces the prospect of having to oust Didier Drogba .
"Shevchenko is a player like the others," added Mourinho, who has lost Wayne Bridge to a pelvic injury for up to three months. "If Andriy performs, if he shows me day after day and match after match that he deserves to play, I'm very, very happy."
John Terry's late goal proved decisive as Chelsea came from behind to claim the victory over Club America at Stanford Stadium.
The Chelsea captain struck in the 84th minute when he collected a pass from new signing Florent Malouda and beat America goalkeeper Armando Navarrete with a powerful strike.
It proved an eventful debut for the former Lyon winger, who also netted the equaliser to mark his Chelsea bow in impressive fashion.
Guardian Service
