Former Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, believes he was underrated during his time at the club despite helping the team win numerous trophies. Mikel, who joined the Premier League giants in 2006 after an impressive performance for Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, was converted into a defensive midfielder by then-manager Jose Mourinho. However, he managed only one goal in 249 league appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge.
In a recent interview on Dubai Eye 103.9 radio, Mikel said he felt underrated by some Chelsea fans who overlooked his contributions to the team. While he acknowledged that big names like John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba often took the glory, he insisted that he and other players worked hard as a team to help the club win.
Mikel said, “I think for mostly for the Chelsea fans, I think they probably think I was a bit underrated. But it’s not something that really got to me. I mean, I was just doing my work, enjoying playing football, and enjoying being at the club.”
Mikel admitted that he was more appreciated by the Nigerian national team, where he was often a key player, and that not all players at Chelsea received the credit they deserved. He added, “For us, some of the players, it was a bit of, we were there doing our bit to help the club win. We worked as a team, not everybody was getting the credits that they deserve.”
In conclusion, Mikel Obi’s hard work and contributions at Chelsea were important to the team’s success, even if he feels underrated by some fans. As he continues his football journey, he will always be remembered as one of the key players who helped Chelsea win multiple trophies.