Ballack eyes Blues stay

Michael Ballack has pledged his future to Chelsea and says he could see out his career at Stamford Bridge.

Following a slow start to his Chelsea career, Ballack started to show his best form in the second half of last season and is expected to improve even more during the next campaign.

The German international admits he is settled at Stamford Bridge and is ready to see out the main part of his playing career with the Blues before hanging up his boots back home.

"I can imagine it (ending career with Chelsea). I will be 32 in September and still want to play two or three more years at this level," he told Germany's Welt newspaper.

"What comes next remains to be seen."

When the time does come to leave Chelsea, Ballack says he will return to Germany rather than go to America.

"We felt very well in the Munich area," he added. "Certainly, we will return to Germany. The step (to America) has rarely any sporting motivation - it is more a matter of quality of life, but I am not currently thinking about this."