Midfielder expects big things from summer signing.
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Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien says he is expecting big things from the club’s latest recruit Christian Atsu, who arrived from Porto this summer.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Ghanian international praised the talents of his fellow countryman, whom he knows well from playing together for their national team.
Atsu, 21, had been tracked by a number of top clubs before moving to Chelsea this summer, including their Premier League rivals Liverpool and Tottenham, though he ended up completing a switch to Stamford Bridge before immediately going out on loan to Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem.
Essien believes the loan spell will be good for him in these early days of his career, as opportunities for first-team football at Stamford Bridge may be more limited, but he also thinks Atsu will make a good impact for the Blues in the future.
“I’ve known Christian for a little while now, and I saw him when we met up with the national team recently,” he said. “He’s a level-headed boy, a very good player and hopefully he will do well for Chelsea in the future.
“He is a winger who plays mainly on the right-hand side although he is left-footed, so he likes to cut inside, and he is quite quick as well. He is only young but already you can see he has an eye for goal.
“For a young player he is already quite experienced because he played a few matches for Porto in last season’s Champions League. The loan move should be good for him as hopefully it will allow him to play more regular first team football.”
Atsu was one of many new faces brought in to Chelsea by Jose Mourinho this summer, following the likes of Andre Schurrle, Willian, and Samuel Eto’o as moving to the London club during the transfer window.
Essien himself is facing a fight to get into the starting lineup this season, but says he is ready to wait to take his chance.
“I’m just waiting for an opportunity, and as soon as the manager needs me I’m ready to help the team.”