[Joe]

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien insists the English media have unfairly labelled him a ‘dirty’ player.

Despite helping Chelsea to the Premiership title in his first season at Stamford Bridge, the Ghana star has been accused of some over-the-top challenges, particularly on Dietmar Hamann and Tal Ben Haim.

However, Essien insists that he is not the aggressive player some think he is.

“ Honestly, I never really had discipline problems before I came to this country. I had never been sent off with a straight red card. Then everyone was saying I am a dirty player. I was bought to be strong, to win the ball in midfield,” he said.

He added: “ English football is very fast, and when that happens, you make decisions and sometimes you catch opponents.

“ You have to be strong in modern football but I would never go out to hurt anyone.”

Essien will display his talents and strength at the 2006 World Cup with Ghana, who are preparing for their World Cup debut.

[Stiles]

Dirtyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Sod

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Stiles21

Dirtyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Sod

LOL have to agree.

He is a powerful player that will always attract the attention of referees, but some of those challenges he makes are just awful.

[Card Happy]

You know what I would give the dirty big cheat that he is?

Red card!!!

[The Guv'nor]

well guess who's just volunteered for a bleedin drugs test.
if some of those challanges were him trying NOT to hurt folk, i'd hate to see him when he means business.

geezer must be on the old Bob Hope if he thinks we're buying that 1

[Don Juan]

I saw some of his tackles and no doubt he is aggressive but his temperament has been first class.

Some have been over the top and usually get punished by the ref. If enough punishments are handed out to a player he gets banned and Chelski play without him.

Anyway a defensive midfielder who has a dirty reputation. Job Done. A la mourinho the opposition now fears him, the refs are careful with him and if a decision goes against him mourinho can defend him by blaming his reputation affected a decision and that the world is against him and his players.

Ingenious Jose.

He learned that one from Fergie.

[God]

He is an animal at times. But all agressive players have this reputation in fact it's part of their game.

Wish we had him.

[3 Lions]

He is a bloody animal. Thank your Mourinho for bringing such an animal to our shores.

Send him back along with yourself, arse that they all are.

[Homer MacSimpson]

Originally Posted by Nakkers

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien insists the English media have unfairly labelled him a ‘dirty’ player.

Breaking news from Stamford Bridge

Essien takes two bottles into the shower.

Just in case they don't go down after the first kick.

[King of Kings]

I do not know what the fuss is about this guy, all I have seem him do is kick people off the park.

Tell Jose to come to Glasgow, I can introduce him to a few friends who can do that for an extra tenner on their Giro.

It would save him a fortune. [no pun about Quinton intended]

[Andy Wright]

Originally Posted by Stiles21

Dirtyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Sod

He ain't dirty, he is very strong that is all.

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by Andy Wright

He ain't dirty, he is very strong that is all.

Yeah stronger then he needs to be going into challenges.