Essien to step up game at Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is delighted to be playing under Jose Mourinho again and has backed the club to return to the top of the table under the Portuguese manager.

The Blues have not won the Premier League since 2010, and they finished 14 points behind champions Manchester United last season. But Essien is convinced the club can challenge for silverware in every competition it enters this season.

He believes Mourinho can help Chelsea regain the form that produced back-to-back titles in his first stint at Stamford Bridge.

"When I scored my last goal for Real Madrid on the last day of the season, I ran over to celebrate with him [Mourinho] and was expecting him to congratulate me when I hugged him," Essien told Sky Sports. "Instead, he leaned over and said, 'See you at pre-season training on July 8.' I found that so funny.”

"We are now back together where we belong and where we had so many beautiful years together and I hope we can recreate those magical years. We are definitely going to give it a go this season. All the trophies are up for grabs and you can rest assured we will do all we can to bring as many as we can to the Bridge."

Essien has struggled with a host of injury problems in recent seasons, and his times at Chelsea seemed to be over when he was loaned out last term, but the Ghanaian is fit again and ready to give everything for the club.