Michael Essien Quotes

Hopefully, now there are kids, both male and female, even senior players, who open themselves up now and are more open to going abroad and playing their football. I've learnt so much, and they can, too.

We've never been to Israel. I'd like to play in Israel.

It is always weird to be in the studio working on Christmas music in June and July, so we decorated the entire studio, we really did. We brought out lights, fake trees and decorated the place to get in the Christmas spirit. You'd leave the studio, and it'd be 100 degrees out in Nashville, but nonetheless, a great experience.

I travel to Jakarta, I see what an important country it is. I've been working with them for a year.

Sydney's a beautiful city. It was a great experience.

Best thing that's happened this year? Maybe Hostel. It was a great experience. I loved it.

I think the game of football, from a commentating standpoint, is missing something. I think it should be a celebration, and I think it should be enjoyable, and I'm trying to make it that way.

I played in England for a year and a half, and I know how English teams play - very well.

I have lots of experience in three clubs: I was at Chelsea, then Fiorentina, and then Roma. I have good experience.

It doesn't matter how I'm asked to play, or if the football is good or bad: I like football when I'm on the pitch, not when I'm on the sidelines.

After playing in England, going to a place where you have 40, 50 people at the stadium was no fun.

I was adapted to European football after playing in Germany for three years, but English football is very different to the Bundesliga.

The Big 4 tour was really great.

A family holiday to Jamaica in 2004 - my uncle was getting married out there, and it was the first holiday I'd had in Jamaica, which is where my father is from. My friends and I stayed in a really plush hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, so we had a great experience.

Milan, I was surrounded by great players; it wasn't the same at City.

I've said in the past that I'd like to play in Spain one day, because it is a league that is good technically and where you get a lot of touches on the ball, which is my style.

The Premier League is the best league, and I've enjoyed every second of it.

If you become their property it is much clearer for you, for the club, for everything. It was a great experience to play in three different teams, different leagues, different experiences, but if I wanted to improve I had to break this cycle and make my own way. That's why I signed this contract to come to Stoke.

Players want to enjoy their football and talk up their performances.

I have definitely learned a lot from playing in different countries and in different styles of football, and I feel very happy now with Al Ain.

I have spent quite some time in Malaysia, as my mother is from there. And shooting there was a great experience.

I love playing in Europe.

I am very proud of being Brazilian, but I am also thankful for having the chance to play in Germany for four and a half years. I have completely changed the way I play football because Germany is a tougher, faster game which is more tactical with tighter marking.

It was a great experience under Van Gaal. He gave you the confidence to go and play.

After my debut as a pro for Groningen, I was at Eindhoven for two years.