Michael Essien believes AC Milan’s 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night did not tell the true story of the match.

The Ghana international played full-throttle at the San Siro in his first match of the competition this season.

Diego Costa popped up with a late winner as Atletico gained first leg advantage.

“I think we played a good game and we had a few chances to score. In the end, they got the goal in the dying minutes of the game but we didn’t deserve to concede,” Essien told Milan Channel.

“We’ve been trying to work hard and to improve. When you have chances to score and you don’t, then things get difficult.

“We have the return match in a month and we’ll be doing everything to get through to the next round. It won’t be easy to get a result as things stand but we’ll do everything we can. I’m feeling good and I’m settling in well.”