By IANS
London : English Premier League club Chelsea have left injured German midfielder Michael Ballack out of their UEFA Champions League squad despite the possibility he could be fit to play in four of their six group matches.
The 31-year-old German international had an ankle operation in the summer and Friday Chelsea decided not to register him for the competition, report the London club’s website.
That means Ballack, who could be fit by the end of October, cannot play before the knockout stages, which begin in February. And that is likely to fuel speculation about Ballack’s future at the club.
The Blues submitted their list of players Friday and felt they could not guarantee that Ballack, who has not played since April, would feature in the majority of the Group B games.
However, Germany’s national team coach Joachim Low has said he is hopeful Ballack will be fit to play in his country’s Euro 2008 qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland Oct 13.
If that is the case, Ballack would be fit for all of Chelsea’s Champions League matches except September’s home tie against Rosenborg and their trip to Valencia Oct 3.
But Chelsea believe that is an unlikely scenario and have decided against the gamble.
A club statement on the website said: “We hope Michael’s recovery is as quick as possible. We hope Michael returns to full training soon so that he will then be available for the Champions League latter stages.”