Barcelona coach praises new Real Madrid signing

Barcelona's Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard on Tuesday praised arch-rival Real Madrid's new signing Wesley Sneijder, who is also from the Netherlands, calling him a "creative player".

"He plays well with both feet, he can play as a midfielder or in an attacking central role, he has a good mentality and the character of a winner," he told a news conference.

"He is a creative player, who can make great passes, who knows how to make great shots and score," he added.

Sneijder has scored three goals during two Spanish league matches for Real Madrid, including two as his side crushed Villareal 5-0 on Sunday, winning him praise from the press.

The 23-year Dutch international, who inherited the England star's number 23 shirt, joined Real from Ajax.

Ballack doesn't understand Chelsea's decision: Loew

Michael Ballack does not understand his club Chelsea's decision to axe him from their Champions League squad for the group stages, Germany's head coach Joachim Loew revealed on Wednesday.

Ballack, 30, is hoping to return soon from April's ankle surgery, but misses Germany's Euro 2008 qualifier against Wales on Saturday, the friendly with Romania next Wednesday and has now been left out of Chelsea's plans.

Having this week been axed from Chelsea's Champions League squad for the autumn's group stages, Germany's captain is baffled, according to Loew, adding to rumours in the British press Ballack could be on the way out of Stamford Bridge.

"I discussed it with Michael and he could not fully explain Chelsea's decision to me," said Loew in a press conference on Wednesday ahead of Saturday's Group D Euro 2008 qualifier.

"Chelsea's doctors estimate he will not be able to play for two to three more months, but Michael is much more optimistic and expects to play sooner.

"For us, Chelsea's decision isn't justifiable," added Loew who plans to recall Ballack for October's Euro 2008 internationals with the Czech Republic and the Republic of Ireland.

Ballack, one of Germany's world-class players, has a superb international record for midfielder with 35 goals from 77 internationals and Loew wants his captain back on the field as soon as possible.

But this is not the first time Chelsea and the German camp have not seen eye-to-eye this summer.

The English giants were unhappy when Ballack flew back to Munich in April and, on the advice of German doctors, had an operation after picking up the ankle injury in a Premier League match.

The surgery ruled Ballack out of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final, plus the FA Cup final, and the English club felt Ballack was prioritising Germany's June internationals with San Marino and Slovakia above their schedule.

Ballack insisted the operation was crucial and ended the debate when he insisted: "Anybody saying that this operation was done because I was looking at the two Germany games in the beginning of June has to be kidding, " he said at the time.

"That's complete stupidity. Name me one player on earth who would risk not playing in the FA Cup final against Manchester United or not playing in a Champions League semi-final against Liverpool because of a Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino."