Former Ghanaian International Michael Essien has opened up on life as a coach, now understanding the emotions that came out of Jose Mourinho when he worked with him.
Since 2020, Essien has been with the technical team and is the assistant coach for Danish top-flight side FC Nordsjaelland.
Numerous reports have linked him with the Black Stars coaching role over the years yet Essien has always candidly stated that his focus is on improving before taking any top managerial position in the future.
Essien has touched on the journey and difficulties that come with coaching in an interview with the BBC, and revealed he now understands the frustrations and anger of head coach of Fenerbahce, Jose Mourinho, who he featured for at Chelsea and Real Madrid as a player.
“I just woke up one day and thought, ‘Let me start doing something,'” Michael Essien told BBC Sport.
“I started coaching so I could learn how it is to be a coach. Now I talk to a few of [my former managers]. Just normal talk – nothing tactical. I had some great, great managers that I was lucky to work under. I learned a few things from Jose and from Ancelotti – his calmness and how he manages his players, the way he tried to put his arms around his players.”
“Now I understand a bit more why Jose would get angry.”
