Essien welcomes competition for places
Michael Essien insists he is unconcerned by the competition for places in Chelsea’s midfield.
Essien was a regular in the Chelsea line-up last season but he could be squeezed out by the arrival of Germany captain Michael Ballack.
Blues manager Jose Mourinho wants to use Ballack and Frank Lampard in tandem and will not drop anchorman Claude Makelele, leaving no space for Essien in the Chelsea manager’s preferred three-man midfield.
If reports that Mourinho will switch to a 4-4-2 formation in order to accommodate Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba prove correct, Essien may find first-team opportunities even more limited.
The change would bring attacking players Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Arjen Robben into the midfield equation.
Essien said: “There will be more competition but it’s up to us to work harder in training and to let the boss decide who will play. I’m not worried about the situation – I’m happy we have so many top-class players.”
