How good is it to have Michael Essien back eh?

I kept saying he was a big miss and after the performance he put in against Citeh on Sunday, we can see just how significant his absence has been this season.  Essien gives us that little bit extra something, his energy and enthusiasm drives us on. He looked like he’d never been away as he not only created opportunities but took them as well. And to do all that after such a long lay-off is even more impressive.

Chelsea captain, John Terry is certainly happy with the form Essien seems to have returned from a six-month injury in, saying “He’s been fantastic – only Michael can do that, he’s an absolute machine.  You see him work his socks off for six months in the gym, he comes back from the injury and shows his fitness with two goals in two games. To play as well as he has done is fantastic.”

Hiddink, likewise, was suitably impressed, suggesting “It’s important to have him back after months out, to be in the squad and making full games because that makes him stronger.  We have seen it in some duels that he is using his strength and winning those duels. That is why it is good to play him for 90 minutes and if he can score a goal that is even better, as he has in the last two games.  He will grow physically because you can work as hard as you want and demand it in training but the games bring this passion which we need and he needs.”

Obviously Essien himself is just glad to be back, saying “It’s good to be back in the side and back with my team-mates, it’s fantastic and looking forward to the rest of the season.”

As for me, I’m over the bloody moon.

Filed under: Current Players, Rants