Essien rejects 'dirty' tag

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien insists he is not a dirty player and his horror tackle on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann was an accident.

The Ghana international apologised to Hamann on Friday after catching him with his studs below the knee in Wednesday’s Champions League stalemate at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old faces a UEFA charge of gross unsporting conduct over the incident and coming after a similarly controversial tackle on Bolton’s Tal Ben Haim earlier in the season, he has spoken to defend his reputation.

Essien told The People: “I am not a violent player. If you look at my career it will confirm that. It was a lunge for the ball. It wasn’t a deliberate attempt to get the player.

“I am not someone who goes around trying to break people’s legs but football is a man’s game that is played with power and force, not ballet.

“I was not trying to injure Hamann and the referee understood that. That is why he didn’t punish me as many people are asking that he should have.

“There are always tough challenges on the pitch, but the worst ones are usually the result of bad luck more than anything else.

“I don’t think refs will start picking on me because of this. I don’t agree with re-refereeing a game after it has happened, it just produces more controversy.”