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What Chelsea legend Michael Essien did during surprise training ground visit is brilliant
CHELSEA legend Michael Essien turned back the years when he recently visited the club’s training ground.
Soccer Aid: Michael Essien returns to Chelsea to train for match
The 36-year-old, who became a cult hero when the club was managed by Jose Mourinho, recently returned to Chelsea’s Cobham facilities to train for a few weeks.
While there it is claimed Essien was involved in doing rondo drills - where a player in the middle of a circle tries to intercept the ball - with the Chelsea Women’s players and he didn’t hold anything back.
Chelsea and Scotland striker Erin Cuthbert revealed how committed Essien was in the training session.
“He was not holding back one bit,” Cuthbert said to the BBC.
Michael Essien was flying around the place and doing nutmegs and all sorts
“We were doing rondos, where you have one or two players in the middle of a circle trying to intercept the ball, and he was flying around the place and doing nutmegs and all sorts.”
Cuthbert said her fellow team-mates are used to mixing with men’s players as both share the same facilities.
“We're used to mixing with the men's players because both teams are based at Cobham, which is an incredible place,” she added.
“I'm not joking when I say there must be 40 pitches there and every one of them is perfect.
“We're in a different building from the men but we use a lot of their facilities, so I was in the hot and cold pools the other day and there were a few of the guys around.”
However, Cuthbert admitted they would be cautious when taking part in the training with Essien, who made 168 Premier League appearances for the Blues, as they had an important European game coming up.
Chelsea: Women's side train for European clash with Lyon
“None of us left a foot in, though,” she said.
“Because were were all a bit wary about getting injured before the Champions League games.”
Unfortunately for Chelsea they failed to progress past their Champions League semi-final clash with Lyon after drawing the second leg 1-1 and in the process losing the tie 3-2 on aggregate.