Don't ask. Yes, it's Mikel. John Mikel Obi. A friend just saw this picture here and quipped "nwanne wetin Mikel dey do for Man United jersey". I laughed. He obviously didn't know Mikel was a Manchester United player for some hours. That period, was when Mikel was our own prodigy before the start of a famous transfer saga that dragged for long . Those of us who watched his games closely felt we had finally come up with that type of graceful footballer we had in aging Kanu Nwankwo and Jay Jay Okocha. Fast forward to today, the same way Yemi Alade is looking for her Johnny, we are looking for our Mikel.
Mikel played his most beautiful football in Chelsea colours under Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo. Ancelotti, especially, placed him at the base of his famed diamond formation. The player's carter started blossoming again. By the end of the next season however, Carletto was fired. Scolari played him too. But he wasn't as pivotal as he was during the Carletto days. When Di Matteo took over, he took to Mikel immediately. Today, the man who brought Mikel to Stamford Bridge, José Mourinho is back, but Mikel doesn't feature in his plans except when all his players including the goalkeepers are injured.
It is baffling. Let's not even talk about the glaring fact that Mourinho purged our maestro of the guile and creativity we knew him for. Look at Oscar's game at Chelsea today. When Mikel was a little above Oscar's age, he was a better player and most importantly, stronger.
In all of this, I don't understand why Mikel doesn't want to leave Chelsea. Mikel will make the starting eleven of a lot of European top clubs today. For reasons best know to him however, he prefers Chelsea stay. I understand the rule of staying to fight for your place. Ashley Young did it and got his mojo back in Manchester United. Paul Pogba left same United for lack of playing time and is today the toast of Juventus fans. If I was Mikel's brother or friend I will advise him to leave. Unfortunately, I am not.
If I could ask Mourinho one question it will definitely be; Where is the John Mikel Obi we gave to you?
Photo credit: dailymail.co.uk and standard.co.uk
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The young man should be the one agitating to leave if he feels his potentials are not being fully tapped; his continued stay gives the impression that he sees the place as his place of purpose or something greater than him is keeping him there. Fear of the unknown is real and even international athletes are not spared...
ReplyDeleteYes he is. No one can actually force him out except the club. Fear of the unknown? Well, can't say about that but I sure know that discomfort makes footballers leave. He obviously is not complaining but then his game is impacted negatively. That guy still has what it takes to fly high. My opinion tho
DeleteYes he is. No one can actually force him out except the club. Fear of the unknown? Well, can't say about that but I sure know that discomfort makes footballers leave. He obviously is not complaining but then his game is impacted negatively. That guy still has what it takes to fly high. My opinion tho
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