Michael Essien aims for Chelsea comeback after end of Real Madrid loan deal

 

Michael Essien: Wants to show Chelsea fans what he can do once again.

 

Michael Essien is targeting a return to Chelsea's first team after his loan to Real Madrid expires at the end of the season.

The powerful midfielder was shipped out to the Bernabeu from Stamford Bridge last August, following his recovery from a serious knee injury in 2011/12.

Essien's spell in Spain has also seen him play in both full-back positions, and he was at right-back for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund that ended with the German side heading to the final 4-3 on aggregate.

The loan deal allowed Essien to once again team up with Jose Mourinho, who as Chelsea manager at the time had signed the Ghanaian from Lyon in 2005.

While speculation mounts over Mourinho's own future, Essien is keen to re-establish himself at Stamford Bridge and is convinced that his time at Real has shown that he can perform at the highest level.

"I will return to Chelsea with my head up and try to win my place back," said Essien.

"I think my loan at Madrid has shown I have still got it at the top level."

 

Plagued by injuries, last time we saw Essien in a Chelsea shirt it looked as if his career at the top level was all but over. Now he's coming back, there are questions to be asked. How successful has he been at Real? Can he transfer, even build on that success, on his return to the Premier League.

 

He says he's prepared to fight for his place, and quite rightly so. Even I'm sure there are some here who will see him as a sure fire replacement for a certain player.

 

Essien is now 30, and if he can can put his injury problems behind him, we could at the very least have a very, very useful squad player for the next couple of years. Taking everything into consideration - age, injuries, absence from the Premiership, change of playing style and personnel, I personally think it's best to keep an open mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He looked fit enough last night, rampaging upand down the right flank, get him back..

Might as well keep him for next year, he a decent utility option to provide cover and I doubt we as club would get much money for him were we sell him. 

Well if Jose comes I'm pretty sure he'll be staying for another season.

I think we have missed him this season. Him and Lampard in the DM roles or even him and Luiz if you wanted to rest Lamps would have been amazing. His steel is something we have lacked this season. We are a good footballing side but without the likes of Essien and Drogba we are missing the chance to bully the other team. Look at the QPR game this season, their midfield was out to bully ours. We missed players like Essien and Drogba who would just brush them aside.

I think he would be useful in a bit-part role, only playing when necessary and helping develop Chalobah and Luiz.

No, No, No.

 

We need to look forward. We have so many good young players that will never get a chance if we hang on to the likes of Essien and try and squeeze a bit more out of them from yet another season.

 

I'm all for giving Lamps another year BUT only if he is played sparingingly and not blunting the development of our next generation. But Essien would be going too far.

I thought he looked finished after the last injury but he's got some decent playing time under his belt and although he may not be the Essien of old he could still be an asset to the club next season.

His versatility and experience and most important his qualities on the pitch will be useful and if we are going to go for the league next year so why would we not want a player like him in our squad?

 

I know what your saying about the younger players but they could still learn a thing or 2 from him and i'd rather see a transition in terms of bringing youngsters in while fading out the older players in an attempt to keep the side winning rather than a sweeping out with the old in with the new attitude.

That attitude tends to be followed up with a 'this team needs time to gel/grow/gain experience' excuse.

Edited May 1, 201313 yr by c3blu2

What's the worse that could happen by hanging onto him? As long as he realises he's not going to be playing every game/he's going to be back up to KDB, etc then I'm fine with us sticking with him, I didn't even want him to go out on loan in the first place.

 

If we need to get rid off him to get Lampard a new contract then well, tough luck Essien and thanks for the memories. I don't think that's the case though.

Edited May 1, 201313 yr by Remodez

No, No, No.

 

We need to look forward. We have so many good young players that will never get a chance if we hang on to the likes of Essien and try and squeeze a bit more out of them from yet another season.

 

I'm all for giving Lamps another year BUT only if he is played sparingingly and not blunting the development of our next generation. But Essien would be going too far.

 

Totally agree with this.  If he'd set the world alight for Madrid this season then it would be different, but I don't think we should be keeping a player like Essien for when we're desperate for cover, that's the time when the youth should get a chance.

I haven't seen much of Essien playing for Real this year. I doubt that hell ever be back to his best but if he's playing well then I'd welcome him back. Michael can play DM, LB, RB, he's even filled in as a CB for Ghana in the past. Great squad player.

He's old enough to give our youngsters a chance in the future. Chalobah is the long term future but I'd like to see a PL loan for him first (hopefully at Watford) before throwing him in the deep end.

So you are willing to give Frank another year but you wont give a 30 year old Essien another year? Even though Frank is out of contract and is one of the highest earners at the club, while Essien isnt out of Contract (meaning having to sell him or buy him out of his contract) and isnt on the kind of salary Frank is on.

Erm....... ok then. #crazy

He's old enough to give our youngsters a chance in the future. Chalobah is the long term future but I'd like to see a PL loan for him first (hopefully at Watford) before throwing him in the deep end.

exactly this. Chalobah the season after next will be ready to start for Chelsea IMO, but only if he gets a prem loan next year. Somewhere like watford would be brilliant, or the likes of swansea/west brom. Essien can fill the role with Mikel/Luiz/Lampard(hopefully)/Ramires next year then Chalobah will come in the year after. 

I don't have much of a problem with him back, decent experienced squad player. He may never come back to his best, but could be useful to have.

So you are willing to give Frank another year but you wont give a 30 year old Essien another year? Even though Frank is out of contract and is one of the highest earners at the club, while Essien isnt out of Contract (meaning having to sell him or buy him out of his contract) and isnt on the kind of salary Frank is on.

Erm....... ok then. #crazy

why if you take one do you have to take the other?

plus, imo, lampard right now is the better player anyway

I'd keep both Lamps and Essien, leave them on the bench and use them as a Giggs/Scholes thingy innit.

 

Mikel can f**k off. Ramires and/or Oscar can play in his role.

The end of the Championship is quite interesting. After the weekends results the last weekend pits Hull (currently second) at home to Champions Cardiff while Watford (currently in third) are at home to Leeds.

 

Should results fall in Watfords favour this weekend they would go up and should they do so that way, or via the playoff's, could well be Franco wants Chalobah to be his midfield corner stone in the PL next season. Should that be the case would be hard to argue one season of that not being the best course for his development.

 

If Essien does come back then I agree with him taking Mikel's spot.

You're not wrong there....

As much as I want Chalobah at Chelsea getting game time, if he can be guaranteed EPL action on a weekly basis, with a manager who we can trust, we'd be silly not to consider it.

The end of the Championship is quite interesting. After the weekends results the last weekend pits Hull (currently second) at home to Champions Cardiff while Watford (currently in third) are at home to Leeds.

 

Should results fall in Watfords favour this weekend they would go up and should they do so that way, or via the playoff's, could well be Franco wants Chalobah to be his midfield corner stone in the PL next season. Should that be the case would be hard to argue one season of that not being the best course for his development.

 

If Essien does come back then I agree with him taking Mikel's spot.

yes, very good point. id prefer him to stay there if that was the case

I do wonder why Jose choose to play Mike more as a fullback rather than as a central midfielder at Madrid?.

 

Still a great guy to have around the place though.

As a squad player Essien could provide us a lot of versatility and experience, not to mention the steel that we've been lacking all year. Also I don't think him being here next season would interfere with the development of Chalobah, who I think needs a PL loan for a year before he's ready for us.

 

However, having ruptured the same cruciate ligament twice, there's no way he'll ever be the same player that he was. To be honest I'd rather bring someone like KDB back first (I know, different kind of player) or sign a younger bulldozer in midfield before bringing Essien back.

He may have learned enough at REAL to rub off on us favourably

Personally don't think he's either good enough of a passer or got the discipline to play in the midfield of a 4-2-3-1 which is why Jose has barely played him there at Madrid. They've played a lot of games and aren't exactly flooded in depth for the 2.

 

Essien at his peak was an absolute beast in a 4-3-3. Mikel is far better suited to the 4-2-3-1 though.

 

I'd see his role were he to return as a squad player and mainly as a backup to Dave at RB, and that's an expensive 2nd choice RB. I'd rather move him on and bring in a top quality CB and keep Iva as 2nd choice RB.

So you are willing to give Frank another year but you wont give a 30 year old Essien another year? Even though Frank is out of contract and is one of the highest earners at the club, while Essien isnt out of Contract (meaning having to sell him or buy him out of his contract) and isnt on the kind of salary Frank is on.

Erm....... ok then. #crazy

 

Erm........no, not crazy.

 

Lamps maybe older but he is still super fit and more importantly hasn't suffered two cruciate ligament injuries like Essien. That's the difference.

You can only keep so many older players in a squad when they are winding down and for me Lamps still fits whereas unfortunately Essien doesn't. (And if we do keep Lamps for another season, it would be on fairly reduced pay anyway).

Edited May 1, 201313 yr by Nibs

Essien should be kept as a team player,the bison should be kept in my opinion.