Mourinho "happy" with Essien's decision

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is delighted to hear that Lyon midfielder Mickael Essien wants a move to Stamford Bridge.

"I am happy when big players want to play for Chelsea, but I am not ready to speak about Essien or any other player as I only want to speak about Chelsea players," he told Sky Sports.


"I am always happy when publicly different players say without fear that they admire Chelsea and would like to join the team."

Lyon Blocking Essien Move

Chelsea target Michael Essien, the Lyon midfielder, looks likely to stay with his French club rather than move to London after Blues? chief executive Peter Kenyon met Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas and manager Gerard Houllier on Tuesday without either club changing its stance.


French champions Lyon have already rejected a ?16.75 million offer from Chelsea and are insisting that Essien, 22, will stay ? despite the player stating his desire to join the English champions.


Aulas said he only agreed to meet Kenyon to stop him "chasing Michael".


The Lyon president also said Essien would travel with Lyon to South Korea on Wednesday to play in the Peace Cup tournament.

Lyon have consistently said the French footballer of the year is not for sale, although Essien himself says he is determined to go.


"I want to leave. I want to play in England at Chelsea," he told French sports daily L?Equipe.


"I?ve thought it over during the holidays, I?ve talked to my family, my girlfriend. It?s time for me to go and I won?t change my mind."


"I want to play in England and in Chelsea. In my head I am already in Chelsea. I am dreaming about it.


"I want to go there, otherwise I will regret it all my life. Things go so fast in football. Such an opportunity might not come up again.