Michael Essien says he's now become more cautious

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien says he has learned to become a more cautious player.

The 23-year-old has been involved in a series of hard tackles on opponents this season, the worst being a horror tackle on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann in December.

The tackle earned Essien a two-match ban by the European football governing body, Uefa and a reputation as a dirty player.

But the Chelsea midfielder insists he has learned to curb his enthusiasm, although he refuses to shelve his physical approach.

"I have changed my game. I am a little bit careful now when I go into contact, he said.

"But I will keep playing my game in that, I will be strong on the pitch."

"Football is a physical game so you have to be strong on the pitch, the Ghanaian added.

"I don't know why I upset people. Contact is in the game - sometimes you don't mean to do it. People can think what they want; I don't mean to hurt anybody."

Essien joined Chelsea from Lyon for a record US$46 million last summer and believes he is still acclimatising to life in the premiership.

"I am still adjusting to English football. English football is very fast. The players move very fast, and you must be careful," he said.

"It is more physical and quick than in France."

I was strong on the pitch in France and I did not have a reputation there [as I appear to do in England]."