The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mikel

  • Norwich 1-3 Chelsea: Mikel absent again!

    Norwich 1-3 Chelsea: Mikel absent again!

    Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel was again left out of the Chelsea’s squad that played Norwich City at Carrow Road in an English Premier League tie yesterday.

    The 26-year old star, who sat on the bench all through Chelsea’s mid week 4-0 victory over Steaua Buacharest in a UEFA Champions League clash, missed Jose Mourinho’s 18-man squad for the Carrow Road clash which the Blues won 3-1.

    There was just one change to the side that started the midweek win in Romania as Demba Ba replaced suspended and injured Fernando Torres up front.

    Eden Hazard, back from injury that kept him out of the Steaua game,came on from the substitutes bench to grab the second goal for Chelsea with Juan Mata playing the no.10 role with Oscar and Andre Schurrle the wider players.

    Mikel who has battled to secure a regular place in Mourinho’s second coming to Stamford Bridge turns his attention to international duties were is going to play a pivotal role for Nigeria in a crucial World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa next Sunday.

  • Mourinho sacrifices Mikel

    Mourinho sacrifices Mikel

    • As stakes go high

    Jose Mourinho may just have sacrificed Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, as the Portuguese took him off and brought on Juan Mata for the second half against Tottenham.

    The stakes were raised in the English Premiership on Saturday, as Spurs took a first half lead, with Mourinho likely to blame the Nigerian defensive midfielder for the error that led to the goal.

    Mikel had slowed down as the Spurs midfielders buzzed past him, and failed to track back as Spurs went on and scored the goal.

    Mourinho then took Mikel off at half time, moved David Luiz to the defensive midfield role, and pushed Mata into the other creative space beside Oscar.

    This formula seemed to work, as Chelsea played better and scored the equaliser through John Terry off a Mata assist.

    The fear is that this may be the formation Mourinho will stick with, as the Portuguese continue to look for what will best work for him at Chelsea.

  • Keshi boasts: More goals for MIkel

    Keshi boasts: More goals for MIkel

    Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has said he expects Mikel Obi to score more goals after he broke his duck in the EPL with Chelsea.

    Mikel scored his first-ever goal for Chelsea against Fulham after over 186 appearances for his London club. And Keshi has now said he expects even more goals from the midfielder.

    “I am absolutely delighted (Mikel scored) because I always tell him he can do it whether at club or national team level, but he has to move closer to the goal area,” Keshi said.

    “He has done it on one or two occasions with the national team and there should be nothing special about his scoring for Chelsea but a lot also depends on what coach Jose Mourinho wants him to play for the club. I am sure the goals will start pouring in for him now.”

    Keshi also said he hopes to soon welcome back Kenneth Omeruo, Bright Dike and Gabriel Reuben from injury.

    “I am in touch with the three of them and have been praying with them and for them because Nigeria and their club sides need them because they are at their prime and very good at what they are doing,” he said.

    “So, I will want Nigerians to join me in praying for them so that they can return to action on time.”

    Meanwhile, Godfrey Oboabona has assured he is well on track with Rizespor despite the fact that he has yet to make his debut for the Turkish club.

    “So far I have played two games for the club and even scored in one of the test matches but you will recall that I did not do pre-season with the club and the manager is trying to see my potentials before he throws me in, but so far they have been very professional in the way they treat me,” he revealed.

    “I can confidently say that sooner than later I will become a regular at the club, I just pray against injuries.”

  • SIASIA BOASTS: Mikel will score more goals if…

    SIASIA BOASTS: Mikel will score more goals if…

    Former Super Eagles Chief Coach, Samson Siasia has tipped Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi to score more goals for his club and the Eagles only if he continues to find himself in the right position to hit the ball into the net.

    Siasia, who gave Mikel the chance to break into limelight by featuring him in the Flying Eagles Class of 2005 that won silver at the U-20 World Cup in Holland and Mikel eventually emerged the second best player of the tournament behind the Most Valuable Player, Lionel Messi, argued that nobody should be blamed for Mikel’s lack of goal instinct while playing for club and country adding that the player must at all time try to find a space for himself in the attack in order to get the goals.

    The former International, however, commended Mikel for making efforts at goal while encouraging him to do more by practising this technique which according to him will make him a more accomplished midfielder.

    “Firstly, I am happy for Mikel to have broken the jinx of scoring for his club Chelsea and I hope this will propel him to get in more goals for his club and Nigeria too”, Siasia told SportingLife.

    The former Eagles boss also offered this advice for Mikel “There is no doubting the fact that Mikel is a talented footballer who has the quality to be a super star in football but he must continue to work hard and try as much as possible to join the attack. If he continue to find himself in good position to score and take his chances he could get in couple of goals for Chelsea and Nigeria”, Siasia told SportingLife from IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), Ibadan where he is handling a youth football project for a bank.

  • My goal is for the fans, says Mikel

    My goal is for the fans, says Mikel

    • Jose happy for Nigerian after shock goal

    Nigeria midfield star Mikel Obi has told MTNFootball.com his first-ever English Premier League goal is for Chelsea fans.

    “I thank God for the goal. I am really excited about it. I am dedicating the goal to my fans and all Chelsea fans around the world. They have supported me and the team,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com.

    “The fans deserve this because they have been steadfast in their support for me and the team. Winning the game eased the pressure on us, we needed the victory. I am looking forward to more of this.”

    Mikel has now scored three goals for Chelsea in all competitions since joining them in 2006.

    However, Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel hit a rare goal in victory over Fulham.

    Nigeria midfielder Mikel found the net for the first time since January 2007 to make certain of victory.

    Blues boss Jose Mourinho, who praised Mikel’s all-round display, said: “It’s good for him, good for us, good for his confidence. I think people enjoyed seeing John score a goal. The finish was good.”

  • My first EPL goal a bonus – Mikel

    My first EPL goal a bonus – Mikel

    Mikel Obi has described his first-ever EPL goal as a bonus after Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0 to shoot to the top of the table.

    Mikel hit target in the 84th minute to seal victory for “The Blues.”

    It was the Nigeria midfielder’s first league goal in 185 appearances for Chelsea, who he joined in 2006.

    His last goal for Chelsea was in a Carling Cup game against Macclesfield in January 2007.

    “It was good. But I think today’s game was all about winning. You know we lost two games in a row and today I am glad we got the three points,” said Mikel.

    “As for my goal, it was just a bonus. I am pretty happy, it’s been a long time and the guys in the locker room would say to me that I score in the national team and don’t score for Chelsea.

    “So, I mean it’s good for me to get a goal here today, I mean my first Premier League goal, I have scored in the FA cup a couple of times, but I am very happy today.”

    Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said, “Good for him, good for us. It’s good for his confidence. He played well, giving balance to the team.”

    Ex-Nigeria stars Jonathan Akpoborie and Nwankwo Kanu saluted the effort as “classical.”

    Kanu said it was an important goal which confirmed Chelsea’s victory.

    “Congrats Mikel, what a good goal and when they need it. Keep it up and keep going Onyegwu,” Kanu tweeted.

    Former VfB Stuttgart striker Jonathan Akpoborie said Mikel was clinical in front of goal.

    “It was a classical goal and clinical finish by Mikel,” Akpoborie told MTNFootball.com

     

  • Mikel: Chelsea can lose again if…

    Mikel: Chelsea can lose again if…

    Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has dropped a bombshell that Chelsea may lose more games if they continue to play the way they did against FC Basel in their UEFA Champions League group opener on Wednesday September 18 2013.

    Mikel who revealed that his teammates failed to do any of what was expected of them by Coach Jose Mourinho in the shock home loss to Basel advised that they have to go back to training to get things straightened.

    “If we play the way we did here, we have a chance of losing to anyone we play,” Mikel was quoted as saying on express.co.uk.

    He continued: “We go back to training now and must look at the things we have done wrong and try to put it right. It was really, really bad – a very bad result for us. We knew the kind of team we were playing against. We knew how good they are on the ball and what they can do.

    The Basel defeat was the third for Jose Mourinho’s side in recent time and Chelsea faithful will hope the poor run can end as quick as possible.

  • Keshi, Mikel dispel injury feigning theory

    Keshi, Mikel dispel injury feigning theory

    Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi, have openly lampooned insinuations in some quarters that Mikel feigned injury to avoid playing in the 4-1 friendly win against Burkina Faso last Tuesday in Kaduna.

    Keshi, who spoke through Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor, said Mikel was injured even before he set out for Nigeria for the encounter but out of patriotism he offered to play the World Cup qualifier against Malawi. The doctors of the national team also passed him fit but not 100 per cent.

    “In the early part of the game the calf injury nearly recurred but when the doctors signalled to him over what the situation was, he offered to continue the game. But after the game we had to review the situation and ask him to go for proper treatment at his club before their next game, instead of risking him against Burkina Faso in the friendly,” Keshi said.

    The coach also said there was never any form of dissent from any member of the national team when Mike was excused and wondered where such stories are emanating from.

    On his part, Mikel said he has never chosen games to play for the national team but has been ruled by the coaches choices and patriotism.

    “It’s sad if people hold such views about me but I am and will always be glad to play for Nigeria. But there is nothing I can do if I am injured and I am sure that Nigerians understand that fact. My teammates also understand because many of them have been excused from the team in the recent past on account of injuries”.

  • Mikel has been top class – Keshi

    Mikel has been top class – Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has heaped praise on Mikel Obi, saying the Chelsea midfielder has been at his best under him.

    “Mikel has been excellent for Nigeria playing under me,” MTNFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying to a close confidant after Nigeria beat Malawi at the weekend to advance to the final playoffs for the 2014 World Cup.

    “He has really impressed me and has never let me down.”

    Mikel was voted the Most Valuable Player against Malawi as he imposed himself in the midfield alongside Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi.

    He also impressed at the recent FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil and played a key role as Nigeria won a third Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg, South Africa, in February.

    He has played a more attacking position from midfield than the defensive role he plays for Chelsea that he is now being touted as a future Eagles captain.

    Interestingly, Mikel had first seemed to be heading on a collision course with Keshi when he first took charge of the Eagles in November 2011.

    The star midfielder, who for long was accused of lacking enough commitment for the national team, stayed away from the friendlies against Botswana and Zambia due to injury and it was not until several months later that he finally played for the Eagles under Keshi.

    And Keshi’s praise now come at a time when there are insinuations that the Chelsea star feigned a calf injury after the Malawi match so as to be excused from Tuesday’s friendly against Burkina Faso in Kaduna.

     

  • Mikel boasts: Eagles will keep winning

    Mikel boasts: Eagles will keep winning

    Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel has promised Nigerians that the Super Eagles will keep winning momentum as Nigeria move one step closer to pick one of the African tickets for 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Nigeria defeated Malawi 2-0 in World Cup qualifiers at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Saturday to emerge Group F leader with twelve points to keep a clean sheet in the matches played so far.

    Mikel, who was adjudged the Most Valuable Player in Saturday’s match, said the spirit among the players is high.

    “We are happy with what we’ve been able to do so far but we won’t rest until we reach the highest level Nigerians expect from the team,” Mikel said.

    “We want to keep winning our games and keep our focus. We will take any game as it comes. Malawi’s game has come and gone and we are determined for the next game.”