Michael Essien might have missed most of the past two season’s through injury but he’s back, fit again and determined to repay the club’s faith in him.
Essien missed six months of our season following a cruciate ligament injury whilst on international duty in 2008, then after some time out last December with hamstring trouble, the African Cup of Nations trip in January saw him suffer a knee injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season again. In spite of that, Chelsea gave him a two-year contract extension in June and our Ghanaian midfielder is ready to repay that faith.
A grateful Essien says “Those kind of injuries can easily end your career. I’m lucky to be back playing and I thank God for making it possible. My future as a player was at risk and the recuperation was very hard because there were so many times I did not have a clear view as to when it would end. But I have never thought about leaving football. I am a warrior and I do not yield to anything.
I think I am a lucky guy. I’ve never seen that before – a player who has been out for six months and they decide to give him a new contract. That means they have great confidence in me when I’m fit, that I can go out and help their team. I am delighted. I think I have to pay the club back with my performance.”
Blue is the colour
