Audio By Carbonatix
Ex-Ghana international Michael Essien has revealed that football is "changing" with much more focus on tactics compared to his playing days.
Essien, who retired in 2020 after a 22-year career, described the sport as "quite physical" during his time, with less emphasis on instructions.
The 41-year-old played for clubs including Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Lyon.
"Football is changing and now the No.10 position is disappearing so it's two No.8s and a No.6 [in midfield] and those two No.8s can become the No.10s so it depends how you want to play," He said in exclusive interview with JoySports.
"Sometimes you move your full-backs high and wingers in, to create some overload to have some players in the pocket."
"Our time is different. It was quite physical and fans like players going on tackles."
The former Chelsea star won two Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League with the Blues.
Essien made 59 appearances for Ghana's Black Stars, scoring nine goals.
He is currently part of the coaching staff at Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland.
Latest Stories
-
Today’s front pages: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
6 minutes -
Ghanaian pastor, Rev Emmanuel Boakye-Danquah on the run over alleged counterfeit currency syndicate
14 minutes -
Give Teshie Desalination to Kasapreko or Accra Brewery
22 minutes -
Absa Bank Ghana and IFC announce $50m facility to expand cocoa financing
30 minutes -
Ghana’s economic revival: Turning financial stability into economic prosperity
46 minutes -
AFCON 2027Q: Black Stars to depart Accra for Bouaké ahead of Ivory Coast clash
59 minutes -
Who to allow into your home, who should come into your cyberspace? Trust is becoming unbecoming
1 hour -
At least 11 dead in mass shooting at house party in South Africa
1 hour -
MoMo Fintech Lab attracts close to 1K entries from innovators across, applications end on Sept 30
1 hour -
Black Stars face Ivorian test as injuries force major squad changes
2 hours -
Save Nations Foundation donates learning materials to Nooria Islamic Basic School, calls for more support
2 hours -
From selling food to solving problems: How Esther Owusu Nkwantabisah rethought entrepreneurship
2 hours -
Explained: Ghana’s water plant deal that produced a $235m judgment debt instead of water for 500,000 people
2 hours -
High Cost of Domestic Airline Fares: Can government do something about it?
2 hours -
Inflation, cedi depreciation put BoG’s MPC under pressure as policy rate decision looms
3 hours