Andre Schurrle 'honoured' to follow in the footsteps of Michael Ballack at Chelsea In joining Chelsea, Schurrle is following the same path as Michael Ballack, whose recommendation also helped convince him that he was making the right move. "Michael told me all the time this is a great club, with great people in this club, like a big family," said Schurrle. He told me if I had to change then I had to do this move to Chelsea. Everybody knows that Jose Mourinho is really good for the players. That's what Michael told me. He convinced me that he could make me a better player. There's no extra pressure for me that they paid so much money, it's more an honour. It makes me proud that the club want me that much. Mourinho's mentions this week of "second choice" players being "in trouble" during a World Cup season might have been aimed at Wayne Rooney but they could equally apply to members of his own squad. Schurrle, a 22-year-old Germany international, will be competing with Oscar, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Kevin de Bruyne and Victor Moses for three starting places in the 4-2-3-1 system that Mourinho intends to play this season. "There are no promises," said Schurrle. I want to train hard and then help the team with my qualities. In every big club there is competition and that's what I wanted. I have this competition in the national team where there are also many good players in my position. There are so many matches that everyone will play. We need everyone, so I don't think there is a risk. For so long in this national team we have had so many great players and such a good team. I see no risk for me. I know my qualities, I know what I can do. Those qualities are, above all, Schurrle's pace, direct running and ability to play in any of the four attacking positions. It means that he will provide a rather different option for Mourinho than more technical players like Mata, Oscar and Hazard. Rudi Voller, who is sporting director at Bayer Leverkusen, believes that Schurrle must still add "more ruggedness" but is adamant that he can become "an absolute world-class" player. "It makes me proud to hear that but I know that I have to improve much," said Schurrle. It is an honour for me to play for this club and the only thing I want it to help the team with my qualities to become a success.