Michael Essien: ouch.
When Ancelotti announced his starting XI for the unbelievably meaningless Champions League fixture against APOEL Nicosia on Tuesday, we at UF wondered aloud just why Michael Essien and Didier Drogba were in the mix. After all, no win or draw was needed; their passage was assured, and yet the stable was full of their best horses. It was just tempting fate… lo and behold, Michael Essien’s now in the nurse’s office.
Minutes after he scored a gorgeous goal from 20-odd yards, he pulled up lame with hamstring knack, and scans have discovered a muscle tear. The injury puts him out for at least a month to rehab, at which time Ghana will come knocking to take him off for the African Cup of Nations. There’s little chance that Chelsea can stop him from going — not only do FIFA rules state that countries can call up their squad two weeks before the tournament, but with an injury to Stephen Appiah, the Black Stars will almost certainly not risk aggravation with Essien — meaning that the Blues will be without their midfield anchor until early February at the earliest.
Chelsea are clear in front at the top of the EPL, and yet things haven’t been running their way lately. Seven goals conceded in their last three winless games, including a rather limp defeat at Manchester City last weekend. Subtracting Essien will be another conundrum to solve, as will the inevitable departures of Mikel and Didier Drogba.
This is all just a roundabout way of suggesting that the EPL Title Race, 2009/10 is not over yet.
Muahhahahahahahahaahahahah.
We now go to John Terry for his response.
John?
I agree with Ned 100%.
James, try telling that to laudable Arseblog arser Anti (aka Cunti) whose most loud and frequent emission is that Chelsea are running away with it and every team in the league might as well give up.
Nobody wants to win the title this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0cbJaLuBnk&feature=related
This really only affects United for the short term.
I don’t like it one bit.
I see this going two ways.
1) They figure out a way to keep him out of CoN
2) Just another reason for a spending spree
that said, Georger, it’s not like you can just go out there and buy another Essien. Players of his ilk are pretty rare.
Everything I’ve read says there’s no way he misses the ACN. If he’s healthy, Chelsea has to release him. If he’s not healthy, it doesn’t matter. Ghana can still call him up, unless his injury is so severe that he’d miss the entire tournament. There’s plenty of precedent for national teams recalling injured players, even for pointless friendlies.
Maybe Essien doesn’t feel like playing for Ghana all of a sudden?