Mourinho wants Bayern's Ballack

BERLIN, Mar 13 (Reuters) Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he would love Germany captain Michael Ballack to join the English champions.

''I want him (Ballack),'' Mourinho told today's issue of German mass-selling daily Bild. ''He has said he needs time before making a decision. I respect that. Now it's up to him.'' Ballack's contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of the season. The 29-year-old midfielder's agent has said he was very interested in a move to Chelsea.

''For me he's one of the best players in the world,'' Mourinho, who was in Germany at the weekend, said of Ballack.

''He's very intelligent, tactically very strong and he scores a lot of goals. For me in Europe there's only (England and Chelsea's) Frank Lampard who plays at that level. The two would form a dream pair.'' Reuters PM BD1455