Khedira Confident Of Keeping National Team Place Despite Ballack Challenge.

Sami Khedira has spoken about Joachim Loew’s decision to name him and Schweinsteiger as Germany’s first-choice defensive midfield pairing, and has challenged Michael Ballack for the right to fill the midfield role for the national side. Khedira stepped into the midfield and into the limelight during the 2010 World Cup in Ballack’s stead. The veteran midfielder was ruled out through injury, but has set his sights on a swift return. Khedira, though, will not surrender his position easily.

“In his career, Michael Ballack has done much for German football and has produced several excellent performances at major tournaments. But with all due respect to him, that may no longer matter. I know that I do not have to hide, and can bring to the national team my own style and, hopefully, success.”

If Khedira should continue to impress, then Ballack’s status in German football may not count for much if the ex-Chelsea man can’t perform on the field like he used to years earlier. At 34 years old, Michael Ballack is nearing the end of what has been, without a doubt, a fantastic career. Pushing himself into his best form, and winning back a starting place with his national team, though, may be too big an ask for even a play with the class of Michael Ballack.

Joachim Loew himself has stated that Ballack must fight for his place in the side, regardless of his captaincy or his status. The pressure is on for Ballack, but at Leverkusen where he is surrounded by players who respect him and support him, he may just turn things around and for himself into Loew’s plans once more. His next opportunity would be next month’s European Championship qualifying matches.

At Real Madrid, Khedira will be honing his technique on the field under arguably the greatest manager of this or any decade, Jose Mourinho. Chances are, then, Khedira will continue to impress and improve and Ballack may be up against it to fight his way back into the national setup.

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