Leverkusen key man Ballack doubtful for United clash
Inspirational Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Michael Ballack will probably have to sit out Tuesday's Champions League semifinal second leg at home against Manchester United, coach Klaus Toppmoeller said on Monday.
Toppmoeller said the German international had bruised his left foot in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to strugglers Nuremberg that cost Leverkusen the lead in the Bundesliga standings with one game to play.
"He is very doubtful," Toppmoeller said of arguably his most valued player. "He could hardly walk yesterday. It's not serious but it's extremely painful."
X-ray checks showed no fracture nor ligament damage, which meant the injury would not threaten Ballack's participation in the World Cup in South Korea and Japan starting on May 31, he said.
But with Germany already missing Bayern Munich's Mehmet Scholl and afraid that another midfielder, Hertha Berlin's Sebastian Deisler, might have to pull out, it seemed unlikely that Ballack would take the risk of aggravating his injury by playing on Tuesday.
"Our medical staff will do their utmost but we have very little time," said Toppmoeller, who was expected to hand over Ballack's role to Bernd Schneider.
Leverkusen twice fought back from a goal down to get a 2-2 draw in the first leg last week at Old Trafford.
Their defeat to Nuremberg in the Bundesliga made them slip to second place, one point behind Borussia Dortmund, and seriously undermined their chances of landing their first German crown after often coming close.
"We are in the last round and we boxed well for the whole fight," said commercial manager Reiner Calmund, whose team are also through to the German Cup final.
"We were floored against Nuremberg. Now we have to stand up and we will."
Toppmoeller, who admitted the whole team had been in a state of shock after conceding their second straight league defeat to live up to their unenviable reputation for choking, insisted the fight was not over.
"When you fall down you have to pick yourself up, not only in football but also in life," he said. "That was my message to the players."
The Leverkusen coach said he had no other major injury worry. Central defender and captain Jens Nowotny had a sore thigh muscle but should play, he added.
"We're in a favourable situation and we want to make the most of it," Toppmoeller said.
"But we are fully aware that United have a fantastic team and are capable of winning at any stadium in the world."
A 0-0 or a 1-1 scoreline would see Leverkusen through but their coach said looking for a draw would be foolish.
"We want to win every match we play," he said. "Of course we have to be careful but we also have to score. My prediction is that if we don't score a goal, we're out."
