Frank Arnesen, a former sporting director at Chelsea Football Club, has revealed that the club did all it could to aid Michael Essien’s recovery for the 2010 World Cup.
During the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations game against Ivory Coast, the combative midfielder sustained a knee injury that jeopardized his chances of participating in the world cup.
Michael Essien was taken to Paris for tests to be carried out on him, after which the club advised against the player’s participation in the AFCON.
Arnesen told 3Sports that Essien had a bad knee injury and we went to Paris for tests Chelsea doctors said Essien cannot play in the AFCON because it’ll be too demanding. We need him to rest.
With the World Cup just a few months away, Chelsea made every effort to get Essien fit in time, but it was not possible.
He further stated that he explained the situation to the Ghana Football Association president and everyone agreed Essien won’t be risked before the World Cup, they put him on a special recovery and managed his game time but he couldn’t make it in time.
Ghana advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup which was held in South Africa in the absence of Michael Essien.