Without wishing to trot out any clichés about Teutonic efficiency, it must be reported that Michael Ballack considers results more important than aesthetics and is happy for Chelsea to play in whatever way necessary to win matches.

Arsenal, Chelsea’s opponents in tomorrow’s London derby, may be seen as the great entertainers of the Barclays Premiership, but the Germany midfield player remembers all too clearly that entertainment does not guarantee success.

In 2002, he played for Bayer Leverkusen, who finished the season admired but empty-handed — apart from runners-up medals in the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup. Ballack also collected another silver that year from the World Cup, even though he was suspended for the final, in which Germany lost to Brazil.

“I don’t share the opinion that Arsenal are more attractive than Chelsea. In Germany they said we played attractive football at Bayer Leverkusen and yet we didn’t win anything,” he said. “The key thing is success. You might play well but invite more risks in a game and end up losing. Success is the priority.”

Chelsea, Ballack believes, are able to play any team at their own game. “In English football, the stress is on physical strength, and not just in midfield, but it is about good football as well,” he said. “We have a good mix in the team, so it all depends on the opponent. At home against [Levski] Sofia and Barcelona [in the Champions League] and away to Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers [in the Barclays Premiership] there was a different style according to the game. Against Arsenal there will be a battle in midfield, so we are looking forward to the match.”

On Wednesday, José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, named Ballack as one of the nine “untouchables” in his team, which Ballack found flattering after so brief a time at Stamford Bridge.

“José is a great manager, so if he says that, it must be true,” he said. “I can play better, but I have been here only four months and it is difficult for players from abroad to fit straight in. There are 13, 14 or 15 world-class players, so it is difficult for the coach to keep everyone happy. But José has an idea about football, so I fully agree with him.”

The depth of the Chelsea squad also explains why Ballack has yet to dominate matches as he did in the Bundesliga or has done in the Germany team. “This team has many strong characters who want to play well, but want to be noticed as well,” he said. “Of course there is a danger that you go beyond that to almost a more selfish approach. Obviously it is not good for the side if that happens.

“I compare the situation to Bayern Munich. It was similar fitting into Bayern when I first went there. Here there is not just a change of clubs but a change of countries, a question of getting used to the style and that takes time.”

Ballack brushed aside any concerns that Ashley Cole will be barracked by Arsenal fans. “It is typical when you play a former team,” Ballack said. “Ashley will remain cool and show what he can do on the pitch.”

He was also unconcerned by a report that Andriy Shevchenko believes his shortage of goals is a result of the desire of Ballack and Frank Lampard to score rather than create chances for forwards.

“I can answer that easily,” Ballack said. “Everybody plays for the team. Didier [Drogba] has scored a lot of goals playing up front. For me or Frank, it doesn’t matter who is playing up front, we are laying on the balls for the goals. Sheva scored last week and hopefully he will get into a run of scoring goals.”

• In 2002, Michael Ballack was part of the Bayer Leverkusen team who finished second to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Ballack was also runner-up in two cup competitions. On May 11, Leverkusen lost the German Cup final 4-2 to Schalke 04 and four days later were beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Ballack then missed the World Cup final, being suspended when Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in Tokyo.