Michael Ballack admits he "blocked'' Patrice Evra in the build-up to Chelsea's controversial second goal during their Community Shield victory over Manchester United at Wembley.

Evra remonstrates with Ballack after the game's flashpoint.

The Germany captain was also "happy'' referee Chris Foy did not blow for a foul as Chelsea went on to score through Frank Lampard while Evra lay hurt on the ground.

Chelsea eventually won the game 4-1 on penalties after it finished 2-2 in normal time, but United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was adamant Foy should have sent off the Chelsea substitute for the use of an elbow.

Ballack declared: "I have to be happy that the referee didn't blow because maybe I blocked him a little bit. If the referee gives a foul it would have been okay as well, but he decided not to. It was a bit unlucky after that because they conceded the goal.

"I kept on playing but then I didn't have the ball so I couldn't see how injured he was.''

Ferguson also claimed Foy should have stopped play when Evra went down as the referee had done when Ballack was injured moments earlier, but Lampard said Chelsea had no case to answer.

Lampard's strike put Chelsea 2-1 ahead in the 70th minute and when asked if he felt he should have kicked the ball out rather than trying to score, the England midfielder said: "I don't think any player would, you're entitled to shoot.

"That's what United did in the first half, but the referee stopped them and when Ballack went down in the second half they were complaining that they couldn't carry on.''

the ref saw evra fall..and the ref doesn't stop the game..the game is on..we score...and how about the fault of the linesman...."offside goal"...come one dudes..enough is enough..

VDS injured his finger during the match. Club later confirmed it too. In Foster's case, nothing's said anywhere.

Roque Santa Cruz is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Craig Bellamy is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Carlos Tevez is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Emmanuel Adebayor is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Robinho is looking forward to starting on Saturday

Benjani is looking forward to starting on Saturday

I see, so he wanted a pay rise to begin with and I'd agree that $150,000 a weeks is an exuberant sum for any player. That all being said then, it's purely a case of him being a greedy git. It's not uncommon these days for players to demand for a pay rise. We just got Torres to sign a new contract where he'll be paid $110,000 a week. Wages are rising rather alarmingly each season because players now know there are employers willing to part with lucrative sums of cash. If Tevez is indeed in it just for the money, I'm sure he won't mind spending time on the bench. A certain Wiston Bogarde and Harry Kewell come to mind.

That all being said, he may end up with a huge smile on his face come end of the season regardless of how much playing time he gets. I believe that City have made a wise decision when they decided to sign proven Premiership talent and thus, have a fairly decent change of breaking the monopoly of the 'top four'. It would have been more obvious that money was the sole determining factor had he signed last year when they had no superstars in the side.

Jonny Evans has revealed he will probably need an operation to solve an ankle problem that has plagued him since Christmas.

It has not been decided when the young Manchester United defender will have surgery but Evans knows he cannot carry on playing with pain-killers forever.

"At some point my ankle will need surgery,'' said the 22-year-old.

"It is a problem that has been bothering me since Christmas.

"We thought it might have gone away over the summer but it is still there.

"Every now and again I catch it and it will be quite sore for a while. Then the pain dies off after a week or so.''

As a short-term measure, the anaesthetic seems to be working.

The Northern Ireland star was able to get through 34 games last season - including the Carling Cup final - and the first two this year when Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have been out injured.

However, the return of Vidic after he suffered a calf injury prior to a pre-season game in Munich, plus the availability of Wes Brown, means the Belfast-born defender may not be required against Wigan at the DW Stadium tomorrow.

Ferdinand is out, though, with Evans acknowledging the 30-year-old's absence for another four weeks is a major blow.

"Rio is a good leader, a very good defender and a great player,'' he said.

"He is a big character who brings a lot to the team when he is playing.''

United will have to manage without him as they look to get their domestic campaign back on track after Wednesday's defeat at Burnley.

As someone who was part of the Northern Ireland side that humbled eventual winners Spain at Windsor Park during the last European Championship qualifiers, Evans knows what it is like to be on the other end of a major shock.

And it has led to a bit of introspection around the Red Devils' Carrington training complex as Ferguson's team look to put matters right.

"The players all look at themselves,'' said Evans.

"They are winners. They hate losing training games so it is no different in Premier League matches.

"They all know how the manager is feeling and how the fans are feeling. But it hurts the players too.''

Wigan suffered a setback themselves earlier this week when they went down to newly-promoted Wolves.

However, new manager Roberto Martinez announced his arrival last weekend with a splendid victory at Aston Villa, which included a wonder goal from Hugo Rodallega.

The Colombian is not exactly unknown to Evans.

He scored against United at the back end of last season, part of a performance so accomplished it prompted Evans to put him in his fantasy league team.

"Rodallega wasn't really known last year but a few people are looking at him a bit more now after his goal at the weekend,'' he said.

"In fact, a lot of people are taking an interest in Martinez for the work he did at Swansea and the way they played football.

"You don't really see that so much in the Championship but I am sure he will try to bring that same style to Wigan.''