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At his best, before an injury occurred, Essien was a complete central midfielder and offered a level of performance that Mikel could not match.
He could tackle, he could drive forward with the ball at his feet, he could pass and sometimes weigh with a goal or two.
His strength, energy, and determination were key attributes, and Essien was smart and versatile enough to be recruited into a law role when necessary.
The Bison was signed twice by Jose Mourinho, whom he refers to as dad, and could have had an even higher score here if an injury hadn’t intervened.
While Mikel once threatened to become Nigeria’s next great creator of games in midfield, he eventually ended up being seen as a consistent and reliable, albeit somewhat limited, water carrier in midfield.
11 years of service and 250 Premier League games tell the story of a player who defended himself at the highest level, only once (in 2014-15) making fewer than 22 appearances in a season with players like Mourinho, Ancelotti and Guus. Hiddink.
He was comfortable playing against the best in the final business of the Champions League, and he also flexed his muscles more offensively while in action for the Super Eagles.
Essien: 22 Mikel: 17
