Mourinho warns rivals Essien is his new master of midfield

The Ghanaian spent most of last season in defence because of the club's injury crisis but is returning to his best position and the head coach cannot wait.

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He predicts Didier Drogba will be as prolific as last season, when he took the golden boot, and insists it is players like them which make him want to stay beyond the end of his contract in 2010.

Mourinho said: "Michael was one of the best players last season but for bad reasons he was playing as a central defender. He is the kind of midfield player we need.

"Obviously this season we need to play with people wide, maybe with one less man in midfield, and for that we need him.

"Against Club America last Saturday I think he showed his power and quality and I hope this season, with the protection we have in the back, that even with injuries we won't need to play him in defense.

"I look forward to it because I think the team is much more powerful, more dominant when Michael is playing in midfield."

Michael Ballack may no longer be one of Mourinho's untouchables but the midfielder is now one of their leaders.

He will partner Frank Lampard with two wingers outside the pair for half of tonight's game against Korean side Suwon Bluewings and the tactic is a good indication of how the Portuguese is thinking for next season.

He said: "To speak about Michael is to speak about all the other players. People think because they are big guys and big names in football sometimes it is not so difficult to lead them. Michael is just one example and the others are not much different.

"They love to work, they are professionals, have good relations between themselves and we have an eye-to-eye relationship every day.

"Michael will play with Lampard for the first half and I look forward to seeing them playing together.

"He is so strong, I feel 90 minutes are not enough for him. He is powerful, as everybody knows, but I think his quality is improving."

If the idea of a better-than-ever Essien in midfield does not worry rivals, then perhaps the prediction of Mourinho that Drogba will be again at his best when the campaign starts next month will start the shivers.

The head coach said: "When I see him in training he looks so sharp - and with only with one week of work his quality looks even better than last season.

"I think we will have the same Didier we had last season and that for us is fantastic."

• Chelsea v Suwon Bluewings, Chelsea TV, 4am tomorrow.