Michael Essien aims for Chelsea comeback after end of Real Madrid loan deal

Michael Essien is targeting a return to Chelsea's first team after his loan to Real Madrid expires at the end of the season.

Hope

Despite winning the second leg of the semi-final 2-0, Real slipped out of the Champions League to deny Essien the chance of appearing in the final of Europe's elite competition for the second time. Essien collected a runners-up medal for Chelsea in 2008, but reflecting on the defeat to Borussia Dortmund he felt the German side deserved their place at Wembley on 25 May. He added: "I wanted to play in the Champions League final again, but we were short. "We had a glimmer of hope in the last 10 minutes, but Dortmund deserve to be where they are. We were only in the semi-final for 10 minutes in the second leg, and also only around five minutes before half-time in the first."