Date: 1st May 2013 at 4:30pm
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EssChelsea’s on-loan midfielder Michael Essien has enjoyed a good season with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid as a utility man and believes he can make his way back into the side at Stamford Bridge.

Essien was surprisingly loaned out to the La Liga giants back in August, just before Raul Meireles was sold at a loss to Turkish club Fenerbahce which left the Blues without depth in the middle of the park and whoever is responsible should be shown the door.

Anyway, the Ghanaian has performed well for Los Blanco in both the league and in the Champions League this season and despite doubt being cast over his future in West London, he seems fairly confident that he will prove his worth.

The 30-year-old said:

“I will return to Chelsea with my head up and try to win my place back.

“My loan at Madrid has shown I have still got it at the top level.”

Mourinho has played Essien in a variety of positions, including left-back, right-back, central midfield and as a defensive midfielder so he has proved his versatility this season if nothing else and it would hold him in good stead when he comes back from loan.

The main thing that would secure his future would be Mourinho himself and I’m sure it has come up in conversation between the two recently as speculation has been growing in relation to the Portuguese manager’s anticipated return to his former club.

I don’t imagine Essien will ever be a regular fixture in his most natural position again, especially as the three seriousness knee injuries have taken their toll despite the denials of some. He has played 30 games this season however so is capable of filling a squad role, but how many of the older lads on high wages will Mourinho be able to keep if he does sign? There’s only so many places in the squad and if you’re going to make new signings and give younger players a chances then you have to make room for them.

What do you think the future holds for Michael Essien? – Have your say in the comments section below

 

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