Sulph
Goodbye...
- 28 September 2003
Chelsea set to miss out on Essien
MICHAEL ESSIEN FACTFILE
Michael Essien
Nationality: Ghanaian
Age: 22
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Position: Right-footed midfielder
Clubs: Bastia (2000-2003), Lyon (2003- )
Chelsea look to have missed out on signing Lyon midfielder Michael Essien after the French club said they were "closing the door" on negotiations.
Speculation on Sunday suggested the 22-year-old was set for a move to Stamford Bridge.
But speaking after Sunday's win over Strasbourg, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed otherwise.
"We have rejected their last offer and we are closing the door - it's great news for the club," said Aulas.
"This is not Michael's choice but mine and I accept responsibility for it.
"I have said since the start - and if you did not believe me you are wrong - that we need our best players for the French championship.
"I know that Essien will be a European player of the year one day. I have the pleasure of telling you he will indeed play for Lyon this season."
Aulas also intimated he had dug his heels in over Essien because of the nature of Chelsea's pursuit.
"It's a certainty (that Essien is staying) because things have not been done respectfully," he said.
"The club should be respected. Maybe Chelsea did not think there would be such resistance."
Things have not been done respectfully
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas
Earlier on Sunday, speaking after the Community Shield win over Arsenal, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho also seemed to suggest a deal was not imminent.
"Chelsea made a very good offer. If they accept it he comes to Chelsea. If they do not he is staying with Lyon. It's simple," Mourinho told BBC Sport.
"We have made an offer. If they accept the offer Essien joins Chelsea and if they don't, he doesn't."
Essien's agent Fabien Piveteau told BBC Sport over the weekend that Monday would be the crunch day in the saga.
Aulas had himself hinted that a deal was getting closer, after turning down bids from Chelsea of £10m, £16.75m, £18m and £21m for a player who still has three years of his contract to run.
It was thought the Blues had tried to tempt Lyon into a deal by throwing in the Portuguese midfielder Tiago.
Gerard Houllier, the former Liverpool manager now in charge at Lyon, told his club's website: "Yes, he (Tiago) is a player that I know and who interests me."
Essien, desperate to move to Stamford Bridge, has said he would refuse to play for Lyon until a deal is done, but Houllier seemed to suggest it was the club who were leaving him out.
There are only five or six players in Europe like Michael
Lyon coach Gerard Houllier
"Michael has a good attitude at training," said Houllier.
"I consider he is not yet ready to play a match until his situation is resolved completely."
Houllier also claimed Chelsea would have two of the top six midfielders in Europe if they pulled off the Essien deal.
"If Michael must go, we will lose a great player, let me make that clear, even if great teams have to deal with situations like that.
"There are only five or six players in Europe like Michael: (Steven) Gerrard, (Frank) Lampard, (Patrick) Vieira, (Michael) Ballack and (Roy) Keane."
Essien was earlier quoted as saying: "I feel very let down by Lyon. I cannot understand why they've acted this way."
Good, i want him to come next season anyway.
MICHAEL ESSIEN FACTFILE
Michael Essien
Nationality: Ghanaian
Age: 22
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Position: Right-footed midfielder
Clubs: Bastia (2000-2003), Lyon (2003- )
Chelsea look to have missed out on signing Lyon midfielder Michael Essien after the French club said they were "closing the door" on negotiations.
Speculation on Sunday suggested the 22-year-old was set for a move to Stamford Bridge.
But speaking after Sunday's win over Strasbourg, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed otherwise.
"We have rejected their last offer and we are closing the door - it's great news for the club," said Aulas.
"This is not Michael's choice but mine and I accept responsibility for it.
"I have said since the start - and if you did not believe me you are wrong - that we need our best players for the French championship.
"I know that Essien will be a European player of the year one day. I have the pleasure of telling you he will indeed play for Lyon this season."
Aulas also intimated he had dug his heels in over Essien because of the nature of Chelsea's pursuit.
"It's a certainty (that Essien is staying) because things have not been done respectfully," he said.
"The club should be respected. Maybe Chelsea did not think there would be such resistance."
Things have not been done respectfully
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas
Earlier on Sunday, speaking after the Community Shield win over Arsenal, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho also seemed to suggest a deal was not imminent.
"Chelsea made a very good offer. If they accept it he comes to Chelsea. If they do not he is staying with Lyon. It's simple," Mourinho told BBC Sport.
"We have made an offer. If they accept the offer Essien joins Chelsea and if they don't, he doesn't."
Essien's agent Fabien Piveteau told BBC Sport over the weekend that Monday would be the crunch day in the saga.
Aulas had himself hinted that a deal was getting closer, after turning down bids from Chelsea of £10m, £16.75m, £18m and £21m for a player who still has three years of his contract to run.
It was thought the Blues had tried to tempt Lyon into a deal by throwing in the Portuguese midfielder Tiago.
Gerard Houllier, the former Liverpool manager now in charge at Lyon, told his club's website: "Yes, he (Tiago) is a player that I know and who interests me."
Essien, desperate to move to Stamford Bridge, has said he would refuse to play for Lyon until a deal is done, but Houllier seemed to suggest it was the club who were leaving him out.
There are only five or six players in Europe like Michael
Lyon coach Gerard Houllier
"Michael has a good attitude at training," said Houllier.
"I consider he is not yet ready to play a match until his situation is resolved completely."
Houllier also claimed Chelsea would have two of the top six midfielders in Europe if they pulled off the Essien deal.
"If Michael must go, we will lose a great player, let me make that clear, even if great teams have to deal with situations like that.
"There are only five or six players in Europe like Michael: (Steven) Gerrard, (Frank) Lampard, (Patrick) Vieira, (Michael) Ballack and (Roy) Keane."
Essien was earlier quoted as saying: "I feel very let down by Lyon. I cannot understand why they've acted this way."
Good, i want him to come next season anyway.
. And Of course the fact that I admire mourinho so much made look more at chelsea games.
