By Ameenu Shardow
Michael Essien will start Real Madrid’s Kings Cup finals against Atlético on Friday after manager Jose Mourinho revealed his starting line-up five days before the match.
The Ghana international will be playing his first major final for Los Blancos since arriving on-loan from Chelsea at the beginning of the season.
Essien emerged the preferred choice again for Real’s right-back position.
The 30-year-old was restored to his natural midfielder role in the 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Saturday.
He has however been taken back to the right-back position with Sami Khedira taking the holding role for the cup final on Friday.
The King’s Cup represents Real Madrid’s only source of winning a silverware this season haven already lost their La Liga title to rivals Barcelona.
A win on Friday against Atlético will also be the first major silverware for Essien who looks set to rejoin Chelsea when his loan spell expires at the end of the season.
Real Madrid’s starting lineup against Atlético:
Diego López, Essien, Albiol, Ramos, Coentrao, Xabi Alonso, Khedira, Modric, Özil, Cristiano and Benzema.