Michael Ballack has room for improvement on the pitch but aims to return into the Germany team for the opening Euro 2012 qualifiers next month.
Ballack, 33, was solid although not outstanding under the eyes of Germany coach Joachim Loew in his return to Bundesliga football on Sunday, a 2-0 victory of his club Bayer Leverkusen at Borussia Dortmund.
“I realised that some things are missing,” Ballack said about his performance. “I am planning step by step and am concentrating on Leverkusen first.” But he also said he hopes to be picked by Loew on Friday for the games in Belgium on September 3 and against Azerbaijan four days later.
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“Of course I would like to be there. I believe I am part of the team,” he said.
Ballack missed the World Cup in South Africa because of an ankle injury sustained in his last match for English champions Chelsea in the May 16 FA Cup final.
He turned down an offer from Chelsea for a one-year contract extension at greatly reduced wages and returned to Leverkusen where his first stint was 1999-2002.
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His future in the national team was questioned when a young Germany squad stormed to third place in South Africa with attractive attacking football. It is not fully clear whether Ballack would remain Germany captain as World Cup skipper Philipp Lahm does not want to give up the role.
Loew said he will meet with Ballack soon and Ballack hopes to improve in the two matches remaining before the qualifiers, a Europa League qualifier against Ukraine’s Tavriya Simferopol and a Bundesliga date with Borussia Moenchengladbach.
“There is still a little time until the internationals. The next two club games will bring me forward,” Ballack said.
While German football icon Franz Beckenbauer told Ballack not to rush back into the national team, Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes has no reservations over a quick comeback.
“For me, he is the best German footballer of the past decade,” Heynckes said, adding that that Ballack showed his class on Sunday.
“He played very well tactically and gave us more stability. You can see that he is great player.”