Football Update: Chelsea’s Michael Essien is happy to be back and raring to go
Chelsea’s dynamic midfielder, Michael Essien has been plagued by injuries in last couple of years, but he is finally back to full fitness and raring to go. He said that he is ready to take it to the next level and lead his team to another Premier League
Title.
The Ghana captain did not play the whole of last season following 2 consecutive knee injuries, the midfielder admitted that his club Chelsea gave him a lot of support during his injury lay off and stood by him.
According to reports in British media the club owner Roman Abramovich himself made sure that the player was ensured of a future with the team. While he was away in injury, Essien was handed a 2 year contract extension with improved terms.
"I've never seen that before," Essien said, "where a player is given a new contract when he has been out for six months."
"That means that they have good confidence in me; that when I'm fit, I can go out and help the team.”
The player was understandably very happy with the way management had helped him out in tough times, and all he wants to do is pay them back with performances on the pitch. Essien is full of optimism and said that a piece of silverware this season would be
a good comeback for him.
"I was delighted with that and I have to pay the club back with my performances. If we can win something this year, that will be good", Essien added.
Since coming back from injury, Essien has been in great form, and in his latest outing against the London rivals Arsenal he was at peak of his powers. After the match, even Arsene Wenger admitted that Essien was untouchable in the game. Chelsea went on to
win the match comfortably by 2-0 and Essien was by far one of the best players on display.
When a player is out for a long period of time, the thought of how long it will last always crosses the mind. Essien’s case was no different; he admitted that while he was back home recuperating from the injury number of negative thoughts did cross his mind.
"Those kinds of injuries can easily end your career," he said. "I'm lucky to be back and I thank God for making it possible to be back. I've put everything behind me now and I'm enjoying my football. I can go forward."
Essien, who was also forced out of the world cup by his injuries, said that now he is happy to be finally back. He admitted that injuries are part of the game and one has to learn to accept that and move on.
The Ghana captain has for now decided not to play for his national team, he explained his decision by saying that the National team doctor was behind his 2nd injury taking so long to heal. He added that when he suffered the 2nd injury
he knew that it was not the same, but the team doctor before the world cup diagnosed it wrong and told him that it was the old injury reoccurring.
Essien said that he insisted that this is something different but he was not ready to listen, and in the end, he asked the doctor to leave the room. The Chelsea midfielder said that when he arrived in England he got a new scan and it was revealed that it
was in fact the cartilage and meniscus instead of the knee injury.
Essien also reflected on the big match over the weekend against Arsenal, he said that Arsenal were tough opponents and despite the physical advantage that Chelsea had, Arsenal did put up a great fight. He said that he has always enjoyed playing against Arsenal,
as they are one of the best teams in England. He went on to say that matches such as these really determine the season, and he was glad that Chelsea were able to come up with a comfortable win in the end.
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