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Berlin - Germany captain Michael Ballack said on Saturday he is keen to extend his contract at English giants Chelsea until after next year's World Cup.
The 33-year-old wants to stay with the London club and says things are improving under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti with the German's contract due to expire on June 30, 2010.
"Things are improving in such a way that we will soon be consistent," he told German magazine Der Spiegel.
And the midfielder says he is enjoying his time in the English capital.
"Things are easier with the language", he admitted.
"At first, I was quiet in the changing room.
"But things soon got better when I learned English, especially after I could articulate myself and it makes it easier working with the other players."
With Ballack set to spearhead Germany's challenge for next year's World Cup, the ex-Bayern Munich star insists he has no problem with negative feedback from within the squad - but sometimes it's his way or the highway.
Ballack landed himself in hot water in October 2008 when he criticised coach Joachim Loew for not showing his senior players enough loyalty and he clashed with team manager Oliver Bierhoff on the pitch after the Euro 2008 final in Vienna in June 2008.
"One must always put the team first," Ballack told Der Spiegel.
"If the criticism is not very positive, then you have to ask yourself: is there a better way of doing things.
"But I will also not bend my personality. Sometimes you have to say: this is the way it is, full-stop."
