Those who were wondering what the future of John Mikel Obi would be at Chelsea under Guus Hiddink with the return of Michael Essien from injury, need not bother their pretty heads anymore.
Tuesday’s Champions League fixture involving the London Blues and the Old Lady of Italian Serie A, Juventus, which saw the latter being dumped out of the prestigious championship by the former, may have put paid to all the fears for the career of the Nigerian international at Stamford Bridge.
Call him a cat with nine lives, and you would be dead right.
It all started with the celebrated controversy that characterized his arrival at the English Premiership. Two top Premiership sides – Manchester United and Chelsea had been at each others throat over who would snap up the immensely gifted football prodigy.
The poor lad would pay dearly for his ignorance and inexperience, as he stayed out of competitive club football for about a season while the ownership war between the two English Premiership giants lasted. It was Chelsea who eventually won the battle.
With the issue of which club to play for sorted out, not without the intervention of the world football governing body, FIFA, the question as to whether Mikel would ever get the opportunity to play in the star-studded Chelsea squad under the charismatic Coach Jose Mourinho became the next battle the young lad had to contend with.
In a deliberate effort to justify all the trouble and money lavished in the fight for the rising star, the ‘Special One’ created a new role for the 2005 World Youth Championship Silver Boot Award winner, drafting him to the defensive midfield as against his more familiar attacking midfield role, which he exhibited with so much dexterity.
It did not take him long before he perfected his new role, so much that he forced a veteran in the stature of French international, Claude Makalele out of Stamford Bridge.
Upon the unceremonious departure of Mourinho from Chelsea, many speculated that the honeymoon was over for Mike at the Bridge, as the ‘Special One’ was viewed as his ‘Godfather’ at the London-based side.
Again, it did not take time before he impressed Avran Grant, the man who succeeded Mourinho as Chelsea manager. Although the Israeli initially ignored him, preferring him as a substitute only when the likes of Makalele and Michael Essien were not available, Mikel had to fight back to reckoning and on many occasions attracted accolades from Grant, while the latter held forth as the technical helmsman at Stamford Bridge.
The arrival of Filipe Scolari after Avran Grant was shown the exit for ending last season without a trophy, brought about renewed fears about the future of Mikel at Chelsea, especially with the arrival of new players at the Bridge.
Many were afraid that Mikel would find it difficult to adjust to the new pattern the Brazilian tactician was going to come up with. Again, the Super Eagles’ midfielder held sway and soon became Scolari’s main man, featuring in virtually all the games prosecuted by the former Portuguese national team coach before he was fired, save for situations where he had to sit out due to injury or match ban for card offences. On many occasions, Scolari lavished praises on the Nigerian international after the latter’s spectacular showings.
Only recently, analysts have resumed the debate on the future of Mikel at Chelsea under Dutchman, Guus Hiddink, who was drafted by Chelsea owner, Abrahmovic, on a rescue mission after Scolari was relieved of his job as manager of the team.
Although the Nigerian lad has been a regular since the arrival of the Dutch tactician, churning out some brilliant outings, analysts would raise the ante on fears about Mikel’s place in the team following the return of Ghanaian international, Michael Essien, who had been out of action for several months due to injury.
Many had argued that Mikel would be consigned to the bench as Hiddink was likely to prefer an Essien, who combines strength with speed and precision at goal from long range shots. But all the fears appear to have melted after Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Chelsea and Juventus, with Hiddink playing both players in the crucial game and of course, getting the desired result.
Interestingly, both Essien and Mikel shone like million stars in the encounter, dispelling any doubts as to which of them constituted a threat to the other at Stamford Bridge. Although Essien capped his outing with a decisive goal, credit must go to Mikel for the manner he held and marshaled the defensive midfield role against the Old Lady of Turin.
Particular mention must be made about the way he frustrated the captain of Juventus, Alexandar Del Piero, a player with vast international experience. It would, therefore, be difficult for Hiddink to ignore Mikel in subsequent matches, Essien or no Essien.
Does anyone still have fears about the future of the Nigerian international at Stamford Bridge?
Source: Sun Newspaper
Tuesday’s Champions League fixture involving the London Blues and the Old Lady of Italian Serie A, Juventus, which saw the latter being dumped out of the prestigious championship by the former, may have put paid to all the fears for the career of the Nigerian international at Stamford Bridge.
Call him a cat with nine lives, and you would be dead right.
It all started with the celebrated controversy that characterized his arrival at the English Premiership. Two top Premiership sides – Manchester United and Chelsea had been at each others throat over who would snap up the immensely gifted football prodigy.
The poor lad would pay dearly for his ignorance and inexperience, as he stayed out of competitive club football for about a season while the ownership war between the two English Premiership giants lasted. It was Chelsea who eventually won the battle.
With the issue of which club to play for sorted out, not without the intervention of the world football governing body, FIFA, the question as to whether Mikel would ever get the opportunity to play in the star-studded Chelsea squad under the charismatic Coach Jose Mourinho became the next battle the young lad had to contend with.
In a deliberate effort to justify all the trouble and money lavished in the fight for the rising star, the ‘Special One’ created a new role for the 2005 World Youth Championship Silver Boot Award winner, drafting him to the defensive midfield as against his more familiar attacking midfield role, which he exhibited with so much dexterity.
It did not take him long before he perfected his new role, so much that he forced a veteran in the stature of French international, Claude Makalele out of Stamford Bridge.
Upon the unceremonious departure of Mourinho from Chelsea, many speculated that the honeymoon was over for Mike at the Bridge, as the ‘Special One’ was viewed as his ‘Godfather’ at the London-based side.
Again, it did not take time before he impressed Avran Grant, the man who succeeded Mourinho as Chelsea manager. Although the Israeli initially ignored him, preferring him as a substitute only when the likes of Makalele and Michael Essien were not available, Mikel had to fight back to reckoning and on many occasions attracted accolades from Grant, while the latter held forth as the technical helmsman at Stamford Bridge.
The arrival of Filipe Scolari after Avran Grant was shown the exit for ending last season without a trophy, brought about renewed fears about the future of Mikel at Chelsea, especially with the arrival of new players at the Bridge.
Many were afraid that Mikel would find it difficult to adjust to the new pattern the Brazilian tactician was going to come up with. Again, the Super Eagles’ midfielder held sway and soon became Scolari’s main man, featuring in virtually all the games prosecuted by the former Portuguese national team coach before he was fired, save for situations where he had to sit out due to injury or match ban for card offences. On many occasions, Scolari lavished praises on the Nigerian international after the latter’s spectacular showings.
Only recently, analysts have resumed the debate on the future of Mikel at Chelsea under Dutchman, Guus Hiddink, who was drafted by Chelsea owner, Abrahmovic, on a rescue mission after Scolari was relieved of his job as manager of the team.
Although the Nigerian lad has been a regular since the arrival of the Dutch tactician, churning out some brilliant outings, analysts would raise the ante on fears about Mikel’s place in the team following the return of Ghanaian international, Michael Essien, who had been out of action for several months due to injury.
Many had argued that Mikel would be consigned to the bench as Hiddink was likely to prefer an Essien, who combines strength with speed and precision at goal from long range shots. But all the fears appear to have melted after Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Chelsea and Juventus, with Hiddink playing both players in the crucial game and of course, getting the desired result.
Interestingly, both Essien and Mikel shone like million stars in the encounter, dispelling any doubts as to which of them constituted a threat to the other at Stamford Bridge. Although Essien capped his outing with a decisive goal, credit must go to Mikel for the manner he held and marshaled the defensive midfield role against the Old Lady of Turin.
Particular mention must be made about the way he frustrated the captain of Juventus, Alexandar Del Piero, a player with vast international experience. It would, therefore, be difficult for Hiddink to ignore Mikel in subsequent matches, Essien or no Essien.
Does anyone still have fears about the future of the Nigerian international at Stamford Bridge?
Source: Sun Newspaper
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