Michael Essien says he is still short of his best level ahead of Chelsea’s mouth watering Champions League tie against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
The Ghanaian midfielder has put in some eye catching displays for his club side since his return from a 6-month injury lay-off but insist he is still some way short off the sort of form that has for long defined him as one of the best midfielders not just in the premiership but in the world.
"I've not returned to my best level yet, even though my first few games have been satisfactory," he said. "I was struggling a bit to finish matches at the start but it’s getting better and better."
Chelsea will need him at his best tonight for the first leg of the champions league semi-final match against one of the best attacking sides in world football.. Yet Essien believes Chelsea can count on their fighting spirit and reckons it is one of the reasons why English clubs have dominated in Europe.
"English clubs dominate in Europe because every week in the Premier League we have to fight to win," he added "Against Liverpool, we continued to attack even at 4-4 when they were virtually eliminated."