Chelsea already have the signing of the summer
Forget the likes of Fernando Torres, Edin Dzeko and Mesut Ozil, for Chelsea fans the welcome sight of Michael Essien on the football pitch was all they wanted this summer.
You only really appreciate what you have got when it is gone and that has been the case for Blues fans during the six months Essien has been on the sidelines. His injury, sustained during the African Nations Cup, also cost him a place in South Africa and makes you wonder how far Ghana could have gone with The Bison in their midfield.
Similarly, it isn’t unrealistic to assume the Blues’ Champions League bid would have carried more weight with Essien in the engine room. They will certainly have more chance of justifying their Champions League odds this time around if he stays fit.
The former Lyon man has become a bit of a cult figure at Stamford Bridge since his move from France in 2005, winning the club’s player of the year award in 2007 and scoring the goal of the season twice.
However, the past three years have seen more injury torment than on field action. As well as this year’s extended lay-off, the 2008/09 season was ruined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
But looking at the player patrolling the Selhurst Park pitch in that friendly it looks as if he is on his way back to his best. It is always hard to judge a player in a pre-season friendly but you couldn’t have asked more of Essien against Palace, scoring the winner and dominating the midfield like he hasn’t been away. The Blues are Premier League favourites this season, and his return is a welcome boost.
Chelsea have coped in his absence, the Premier League and FA Cup trophies are testament to that, but the Blues are a vastly stronger outfit with him in the side.
And that is why his return to action is the best thing that will happen to Chelsea all summer.
Filed under: Current Players
Chelsea News 24/7
Excellent article! we really have missed Essien’s drive and steel in the midfield. Mikel did a job for us last season in his absence but he isn’t half the player Essien is. let’s hope he stays fit and healthy this season.
Oh please, i am so tired of this bollocks. Essien is not a new signing, he is just coming back from injury ,nothing else. We had him last season when we lost to Wigan and CIty, not savier he is by any means. Stop calling him the best signing of the season, its already unoriginal and a bit silly. thanx. sorry if its rough, just annoyed by lack of real signings and too many departures.
Spot on.
The best midfielder in the world. All hail Essien!!
Please sign more players for depth sake.We lack replacements incase of injuries.
Well,as 4 me. I will be so unhappy if CA do not sign another dangerous attacker 4us. We cant reply on drog’s treat everytime.
Mikel iz a much beta player defensively n he distributes d ball well.. buh Essien gives us more option in attack as he has a powerful shot
Ancellotti is the special one with or without new signings Chelsea will win silverware. Ancellotti is the signing of the decade.
We all know how important a fit Essien is. I still want the Ramirez deal to go through as I see him a a long term replacement for Lampard. He might not have the same amount of goals in him but HEY who does??
i dont think an attacker is what we need… we have good striking options and hierarchy going on here…drogba, anelka, kalou, sturridge, di santo, borini…the young lads have the future mapped out and will provide ample motivation for them to improve even more
From my research teams that eliminate chelsea from the champions league lies to win the cup at last. This is a good point of reason why chelsea should be made more stronger than last season.yes we won a double but lets look at how to win the champions league this season.we need players like torres,aguero or even defoe from tottenham yossi is a good replacement for j cole .what of deco?we need fantastic wingers like lenon from tottenham as well.his got good speed and dribble movements that easily break stubborn defences.carlo should see to this