Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is of high hopes Milan will soar in the Serie A this season, adding he will continue to fight for laurels with the Rossoneri.

The former Chelsea enforcer said he believes in Pippo Inzaghi and has no doubt he will guide them to success this term.

“I am hoping to contribute to Milan’s success in any way I can and hoping we can finish in the top two or three,” Essien told Fifa.com. “We have high hopes of doing well and my job like any other Milan player is to fight for the club when called upon so we can succeed as a group.”

The 31-year-old added: “I'm sure it will help us, although we still would like to have been in Europe. We have to look ahead, but we mustn't forget we need to work hard to be able to do well in Serie A.

“Not being in Europe doesn't automatically mean you'll do well. It means fewer games and good recovery times compared to those in Europe, but we still have to work hard and take our opportunities as they come throughout the season.”

On Inzaghi he stated: “He is a good person first and foremost and is doing a good job as a Coach too. He's relatively young as a full-time Serie A Coach but I have no doubt he'll do well if he carries on in this way.

“It’s not easy to coach and manage football clubs, let alone a great club like Milan, so I have a lot of respect for him for taking up the challenge and he is giving it everything he has.”