Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has expressed his relief after a blood test revealed he was not over the legal drink-drive limit when arrested last week. Essien had been arrested prior to Chelsea's Champions League semi-final first leg game against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

The Ghana international was suspended for the tie but returned for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Chelsea crashed out of the competition for the second time in three years at the semi-final stage when Liverpool won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 4-1.

But Essien has now been given the all-clear by police following a blood test which revealed he was not in breach of the law.

Essien declared: "I would never drink and drive and I am glad the blood test results came back and confirmed that I was not over the limit.

"The people close to me know that I don't really drink anyway but I certainly would never be so irresponsible to put my own and other peoples' lives at risk.

"I am very aware also that footballers are role models to a lot of young kids and I take that seriously so would not want any kids to think that I would behave in an irresponsible way. That is why I wanted to clear my name and make sure people know I am a responsible person and was not over the limit.

"This story has caused a lot of upset also to my mum and family in Ghana. There has been a lot of things written about me that are just not true. It's important to me that people write the truth - that I was not over the limit. There are no charges being brought against me.

"As far as I was concerned the police were doing their job, I happily co-operated with them, even signed autographs for some of the officers' kids. I presumed when I was allowed to drive home after two-and-a-half hours at the station that they were happy I was not over the limit."