Four games into the season Michael Ballack has more league goals already than in the whole of last season.
Yet the German international captain's success in front of goal so far is not down to a licence to attack at will. He acknowledges that in a flexible midfield, everyone knows they have a varied job.
The scorer of Chelsea's second goal on Saturday against Burnley is playing in a line up with more experience and more quality in the middle of the park than many a national side. Consequently individual players are under less pressure to dominate play compared with other teams they have performed in.
'It is not a problem,' reckons Ballack. 'Everybody has to play for their team and accept his role, even if you are in a defensive position sometimes. That is the key if you want to have success.
'I can a play little bit deeper or further forward, and all the other midfielders at Chelsea can play these position as well. It is quite flexible and that is a big advantage because it is quite difficult for the opponent to mark us and to see the position we are.
'Of course most of the time we keep position but during the game there is movement and situations where the opponents mark you well and it is difficult to create space. So you have to change your position and that is what we have done in the last games well and it is why it looks good.'
Also looking good were the goals against Burnley.
'It was a good cross from Frank [Lampard] for my goal,' highlights Ballack. 'It was all about the delivery and it was not that difficult for me.
'Ashley Cole plays fantastic and he deserved his goal. He told me he has never scored a goal for England and I was surprised because he is so attacking and has so many chances. That he could score at Stamford Bridge was good for him because he puts a lot of effort in for the team. He works the line up and down and is one of the fittest players.'
Ballack himself claims to be in very good condition after a summer without an international tournament. Even his tour of the US being curtailed by a minor foot injury wasn't a significant set back.
'It was a good pre-season. The finish to last season with Guus Hiddink the team looked well and played good football and that is what we have done at the beginning of this season. The coach is always important to put a good atmosphere in the team and since Carlo Ancelotti arrived he has brought the team back together.
'We are always happy when we are in first position. It is early in the season and we know there is a lot to do to keep this position, but the victories have given us a lot of confidence.
'It was a surprise that Liverpool lost twice in the first three games and it gives us extra motivation. All we can do is win games. We have to focus on ourselves and if we play the best we can we can win the league.
'It was a good choice for me to move to England,' Ballack adds. 'You see in the Champions League how good the teams are. For me it is the best league in the world at the moment so I am really happy to be part of it.'
Yet the German international captain's success in front of goal so far is not down to a licence to attack at will. He acknowledges that in a flexible midfield, everyone knows they have a varied job.
The scorer of Chelsea's second goal on Saturday against Burnley is playing in a line up with more experience and more quality in the middle of the park than many a national side. Consequently individual players are under less pressure to dominate play compared with other teams they have performed in.
'It is not a problem,' reckons Ballack. 'Everybody has to play for their team and accept his role, even if you are in a defensive position sometimes. That is the key if you want to have success.
'I can a play little bit deeper or further forward, and all the other midfielders at Chelsea can play these position as well. It is quite flexible and that is a big advantage because it is quite difficult for the opponent to mark us and to see the position we are.
'Of course most of the time we keep position but during the game there is movement and situations where the opponents mark you well and it is difficult to create space. So you have to change your position and that is what we have done in the last games well and it is why it looks good.'
Also looking good were the goals against Burnley.
'It was a good cross from Frank [Lampard] for my goal,' highlights Ballack. 'It was all about the delivery and it was not that difficult for me.
'Ashley Cole plays fantastic and he deserved his goal. He told me he has never scored a goal for England and I was surprised because he is so attacking and has so many chances. That he could score at Stamford Bridge was good for him because he puts a lot of effort in for the team. He works the line up and down and is one of the fittest players.'
Ballack himself claims to be in very good condition after a summer without an international tournament. Even his tour of the US being curtailed by a minor foot injury wasn't a significant set back.
'It was a good pre-season. The finish to last season with Guus Hiddink the team looked well and played good football and that is what we have done at the beginning of this season. The coach is always important to put a good atmosphere in the team and since Carlo Ancelotti arrived he has brought the team back together.
'We are always happy when we are in first position. It is early in the season and we know there is a lot to do to keep this position, but the victories have given us a lot of confidence.
'It was a surprise that Liverpool lost twice in the first three games and it gives us extra motivation. All we can do is win games. We have to focus on ourselves and if we play the best we can we can win the league.
'It was a good choice for me to move to England,' Ballack adds. 'You see in the Champions League how good the teams are. For me it is the best league in the world at the moment so I am really happy to be part of it.'
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