Ballack admits to blocking Evra during Community Shield

LONDON - Chelsea mid-fielder Michael Ballack has admitted that he had blocked Manchester United player Patrice Evra and was lucky to avoid a caution during the Community Shield at Wembley.

“I have to be happy that the referee didn’t blow because maybe I blocked him a little bit. If the referee gives a foul it would have been okay as well, but he decided not to. It was a bit unlucky after that because they conceded the goal,” The Telegraph quoted Ballack, as saying.

“I kept on playing but then I didn’t have the ball so I couldn’t see how injured he was,” he added.

Ballack appeared to have obstructed Evra in the build-up to Chelsea’s controversial second goal, an incident that was missed by referee Chris Foy.

Chelsea won the Community Shield 4-1 on penalties after it finished 2-2 in normal time.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that Ballack should have been sent off for his intervention.

Lampard also defended his decision to shoot, claiming that everyone would have done the same.

“I don’t think any player would (kick the ball out), you’re entitled to shoot. That’s what United did in the first half, but the referee stopped them and when Ballack went down in the second half they were complaining that they couldn’t carry on,” Lampard said. (ANI)