By: Simon Johnson
According to Carlo Ancelotti, a lack of power, ability and character was the reason behind Chelsea's Champions League failure last season. He could have used two other words to explain what the club sorely missed — Michael Essien.
The Ghana international is the epitome of the characteristics the Chelsea coach mentioned in his press conference on the eve of their opening group game against MSK Zilina and he showed just why in the match itself.
While some of his team-mates began to lose their cool and composure even after cruising into a 4-0 lead within 48 minutes, Essien remained resolute in midfield to see the game out with minimal damage to the goals against column.
This is a player who has missed 11 months of football in the last two seasons through injury but he is playing as if he has never been away.
Essien followed up his two goals in the London derby victory over West Ham at the weekend with the opening strike against the hapless Slovakian champions.
Not that his efforts would have the media begging for a post-match interview afterwards. He is so quiet when he talks that one would need him to speak through a megaphone in order to hear what he has to say.
Yet even fans with the worst eyesight couldn't fail to spot his ability to dominate the pitch in central midfield.
How Chelsea would have benefitted from his presence against Inter Milan in the last 16 earlier this year but he was sidelined with a serious knee injury that also kept him out of the World Cup.
It is a measure of just how much the club value the 27-year-old that they offered him a two-year extension on his contract this summer despite another lengthy stay on the treatment table.
Compare that to Joe Cole, who was back playing again last term after a serious injury of his own only for his demands for a new deal to be ignored and he was eventually released on a free transfer.
Essien has since admitted he couldn't believe his luck that the club made the offer to him in the first place but in truth Chelsea are the fortunate ones to have him in their squad.
At present, Ancelotti is employing him to the right of holding midfielder John Obi Mikel and this is arguably his best position because, as he ably displayed against Zilina last night,
he can be so highly influential at both ends of the pitch. Essien has the freedom to get forward, as he demonstrated by finishing off a fine Chelsea move in the 13th minute by converting Nicolas Anelka's cross.
But, crucially, he provides great support for Mikel in breaking up opposition attacks and keeping possession. It is no coincidence the latter looks a far more accomplished player with Essien rather than the ageing Michael Ballack, who was also released this summer, next to him.
Questions were certainly asked of Chelsea's transfer policy in the close season after they made just two signings in Ramires and Yossi Benayoun and let five experienced squad members go.
It may be a bit of a cliche but the club clearly regarded the return of Essien as like a new addition to the squad and he has certainly played a major role in them beginning the season with five consecutive victories.
Much tougher tests of their ability are just around the corner, with Manchester City and Arsenal looming large on the horizon in the Premier League. However, the signs are ominous for the opposition.
Ancelotti's side have already found the net 21 times and that total could have been a lot higher if they hadn't gone through the motions for much of the second half against Zilina.
Significantly, the goals have been shared around, as Daniel Sturridge became the eighth player in the squad to score this season when he cooly waltzed past Zilina keeper Martin Dubravka to make it 4-0.
Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole weren't even required as they were left behind for various reasons in London and the trio will be fully fresh to face the surprise early gatecrashers to the top four — Blackpool — on Sunday.