Michael Essien Update & Interview!
UPDATE ON INJURY PROGRESS & WORLD CUP
After winning the League & Cup double with Chelsea FC most of the players have now departed for an interim well earned rest and will be joining their national teams in the days ahead
However yours truly Michael Essien is back at Chelsea 's Cobham training ground to carry on with his rehabilitation
The Ess team caught up with him to chat about how the injury was progressing and what the plans are for now
Congratulations Michael for winning the Double - the first in the club's history. What is the feeling like?
It's a good feeling to be double champions and in actual fact we are treble winners because we won the Community Shield at the start of the season so it has been a very successful season.
You have already dedicated the trophies to the fans. What else have you got to say to them?
Nothing more than I have already said which is they are the best fans in the world and I am glad we were able to make them happy. I think we had about 200,000 people at the parade on Sunday which shows how much they love Chelsea. They are special and they deserve all the happiness.
What about the boss's karaoke on the bus. What was he singing?
I have no idea at all but it was brilliant, wasn't it? We were all happy and we let our emotions out on the bus.
Let's talk about your rehabilitation and plans for the World Cup. I am sure fans want to hear that?
At the moment I am carrying on with my rehabilitation programme. Chelsea have allowed me to carry on till the end of May at Cobham and my fitness will be assessed by the experts as the days go by. I feel a lot better than I did a few weeks ago so I am keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well.
You have been selected in Ghana's 30-man squad. Is the Ghana FA aware of your current situation?
The plan right now is to have a detailed meeting with the Ghana FA and with Chelsea as well in the next few days. We are organising that as we speak so everyone will be fully informed about the situation and the progress on a daily basis. We felt it was best to leave it till now so as not to disrupt Chelsea's League and Cup plans and also it is the best time for the Ghana FA as the team will be getting ready to meet up now.
As you know a lot of people have been sending you good wishes and some have even been holding prayer sessions for you in Ghana. How does that make you feel?
Yes, I get loads of emails from well-wishers all the time and I am always grateful for people's wishes. I also found out through a friend about the prayer session held for me. I am really touched by such generosity from the organisers and the people who attended the prayer session. I am humbled and extremely grateful.
So can fans expect to see you in South Africa for the World Cup?
That is the plan at least. I have to keep working hard to be fit and I can assure you I am doing that. Once I am fit I hope to feature in at least one trial match before the World Cup starts. I haven't played since January as you well know so I will need games before the real thing starts. However even if I don't get any trial games, as long I am declared fit by the medical team then I will be in South Africa for sure.
Any final messages for the fans?
I will like to urge all Ghanaians to keep supporting the Black Stars with or without Michael Essien. We need your support through thick and thin and I hope like the Chelsea fans, Ghanaians will back the squad before, during and after the World Cup. Hopefully I will see you in South Africa.
Source
we need prayer circle icons for essien, just sayin' ;-). I'm really hoping everything goes well and he is at the World Cup!