Former Ghana international Michael Essien says he holds no grudges against the country, even though he sustained his worst injuries while playing for the Black Stars.
Essien represented Ghana at two World Cups, including the country’s maiden appearance in 2006, and led Ghana to a third-place finish at the AFCON on home soil in 2008.
It is widely believed the former Chelsea midfielder could have done more for his country but for injuries.
The first of such injuries was against Senegal in London, in August 2007.
Essien would sustain another, and perhaps the most significant of the injuries he suffered while playing for Ghana.
Then, as a 25-year-old, Essien felt a pop in his knee during the international friendly played in September 2008.
Further tests showed he had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out of action for the duration of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
I suffered) my first injury while I was playing for the Black Stars, agianst Libya. That was when I damaged my knee badly. I mean, it happens. If there are no injuries, maybe others will not get opportunities so it is part of it,” Essien told Joy Sports editor, Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo in an exclusive chat at the Nordsjaelland training base.
Two years after the career threatening injury, Essien would suffer another one, this time, at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Essien suffered what was initially thought to be the latest in recurring hamstring problem, in training.
Scans on Essien’s left leg in Luanda later indicated that he had suffered a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his knee and damage to his meniscus.
”Most of my bad injuries happened when I was playing for the Black Stars but who cares, it happens. I do not hold any grudges or anything. I was just unlucky and injuries are part of the game so we just have to deal with it. You know, I have no regrets. I think I had quite a decent career and I always look into the positive side of every situation.” he said.
Essien scored nine times in fifty-nine appearances for Ghana between 2002 and 2014.