Ballack patient over new contract

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Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack insists there is no rush to sign a new contract despite only having one year remaining on his current deal.

The Blues are already back in training but Ballack is resting in Germany following his country's Euro 2008 final defeat just over a week ago.

The 31-year-old will not return to London for another couple of weeks but he believes there is still plenty of time to consider his future.

"I have a contract until 2009 and there is an option to extend it, so there is no need to rush," he told Bild newspaper.

"We will just wait and see what happens."

Although he narrowly missed out on silverware last season, conceding the Premier League and Champions League titles to Manchester United, Ballack believes being at Chelsea gives him the best chance of glory.

"Even without new signings, Chelsea already had an exceptional squad which is capable of winning something always," he said.

"That obviously means (we can win) the Champions League next season. That is the reason why I moved to Chelsea. I am playing in the best league in the world with one of the strongest teams."

Ballack added that despite his "nearly man" tag becoming even more prominent this summer, he feels lucky to have won 10 titles in Germany and England.

"I think that I have been successful," he said. "Some people win just one title and spend their lives revelling in that while others never win anything.

"Of course I am missing a big international title, but who can show off a better record than me anyway?"