Mikel sets record

[Bigpokey24]

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/mike ... s-watford/

John Mikel Obi has set a new milestone in today’s game against Watford as he becomes only the 21st player to make 350 appearances for Chelsea in her 110-year history. Mikel was introduced in the second half for Cesc Fabregas.

The 28-year-old is already well clear as the club’s third-highest overseas appearance maker

‘Personally it is going to be great for me if I can achieve that number,’ Mikel tells the official Chelsea website before the match.

‘I also want to push on and see how many more appearances I can get. For me it has been a great time here, I still enjoy it and ever since I walked into this football club I knew this was the place for me.

‘I am so happy and so proud of the amount of games I have played for this club and at the same time using these games to win trophies and medals. This is the most important thing. For the past 10 years we have helped build the reputation of this club and Chelsea is up there in world football. I am so proud of what I have achieved and I still want to keep going.’

Sixteen of Mikel’s 349 matches so far came during the three months Guus Hiddink was previously in charge. The Nigerian was one of the players frequently selected during that time (Michael Essien and Michael Ballack being others) to form a solid base to midfield that allowed Frank Lampard freedom to form a strong link with restored centre-forward Didier Drogba.

Big matches such as the 0-0 draw in the 2009 Champions League semi-final in Barcelona and the FA Cup final win over Everton rank among Mikel’s best. He is one of the three members of the current squad remaining from that time and he has been training again with Hiddink since Tuesday

[Chxta]

I get the impression that he's going to see a bit more playing time under Hiddink...

[Bigpokey24]

I get the impression that he's going to see a bit more playing time under Hiddink...

yeap, same feeling.... Also remember Newton(assistant first team coach along with Holland c urrently) was RDM's Assistant ....

[theYemster]

If you're 21st in one thing, and 3rd in another, then what exactly is the record?

[Oba]

If you're 21st in one thing, and 3rd in another, then what exactly is the record?

Amongst olodos, 21st place is a 'record'

[rasak74]

If you're 21st in one thing, and 3rd in another, then what exactly is the record?

Amongst olodos, 21st place is a 'record'

[amafolas]

what about his other record? Longest bench tenure. The guy has sat on the bench so long, they might as well call him a supreme court justice.

[Nzeamaka]

Mikel don't age for one bit. He's being 28 years of age for more than 4 years now. I even forgot he still play for chelsea

[Bigpokey24]

The Boxing Day Interview: John Mikel Obi
FEATURE SAT 26 DEC 2015

John Mikel Obi talks about a new milestone, being reunited with Guus Hiddink and a compatriot providing the Hornets’ sting…


Should John Mikel Obi play a part in today’s game against Watford then he will become only the 21st to make 350 appearances for Chelsea in our 110-year history.

The 28-year-old is already well clear as the club’s third-highest overseas appearance maker and even if it does not happen today, he will surely reach the 350 milestone soon given the busy fixture programme and his impressive performance after coming on in the last game, the win against Sunderland.

When he does, he will do so with a quiet sense of satisfaction.

‘Personally it is going to be great for me if I can achieve that number,’ Mikel tells the official Chelsea website.

‘I also want to push on and see how many more appearances I can get. For me it has been a great time here, I still enjoy it and ever since I walked into this football club I knew this was the place for me.

‘I am so happy and so proud of the amount of games I have played for this club and at the same time using these games to win trophies and medals. This is the most important thing. For the past 10 years we have helped build the reputation of this club and Chelsea is up there in world football. I am so proud of what I have achieved and I still want to keep going.’
"The top four is still achievable, we can still do it so why not?"-
Sixteen of Mikel’s 349 matches so far came during the three months Guus Hiddink was previously in charge. The Nigerian was one of the players frequently selected during that time (Michael Essien and Michael Ballack being others) to form a solid base to midfield that allowed Frank Lampard freedom to form a strong link with restored centre-forward Didier Drogba.

Big matches such as the 0-0 draw in the 2009 Champions League semi-final in Barcelona and the FA Cup final win over Everton rank among Mikel’s best. He is one of the three members of the current squad remaining from that time and he has been training again with Hiddink since Tuesday.

‘He is still the same man,’ Mikel reports. ‘He likes to get involved in training, have a bit of banter with the players but at the same time it is all serious business and that is what we need. He is always like a father figure to the team, speaking to the players individually, putting an arm around them and getting feedback from the team on what we think problems are and then trying to fix them.

‘He knows exactly what he wants to do and he did it last time he was here and I think it is going to go the same way. He is going to demand a lot from the players, push everyone to the maximum in training so that when we get to the games we can perform well.

‘In matches he wants his teams to react when you lose the ball, to press and recover it and then play and create chances, and create a lot of them to win games. Also to finish the chances because we have been playing some good football but not getting the goals we deserve so that is one thing the manager will want to bring into the team. He will want us to get into the box and make sure we get onto those crosses that are coming in. I think he is going to bring changes to the play and everyone is on board so we achieve those.’

John Mikel Obi on the way to winning the FA Cup in 2009

Mikel also highlights the important roles to be played by Hiddink’s two assistant coaches, Steve Holland who has been a constant with the first team squad since 2011 and Eddie Newton, who had a similar job when Roberto Di Matteo was in charge and the Blues won the Champions League final, widely considered to be Mikel’s greatest game.

‘It is always important to have someone who was there before,’ he notes, ‘and with the previous manager Steve was there and knows how that team has been playing and that can help the new manager. Eddie is a great guy, a great motivator in training and likes to push the players as well to work hard.’

The first task for Chelsea under new control is taking three points from a Watford side that has collected 12 out of 12 from their most recent outings, a new best for the Hornets in top-flight football. Mikel’s Nigeria international team-mate Odion Ighalo scored in all four of those matches and has netted 12 of their 21 league goals.

Watford are 10 points ahead of the Blues and it is matches like these we need to win if we are to climb the table rapidly.

‘They are in good form, they have been promoted into the Premier League and they are surprising everyone playing the way they are, so we have to be on our A game. We have start the game well and if we can get a few goals that can help settle us down.

‘I am not surprised Odion Ighalo is doing what he is doing. I have chatted with him and played with him in the national team and I can see the talent he has, and even before I have the ball in those games he is already making his run.

‘He is a player who likes to exploit the space behind the defence and is a good finisher around the box. He is someone we need to watch out for.

‘We have to win every game now. The top four is still achievable, we can still do it so why not? It is not beyond our reach.

‘The cups are always important as well. We are still in the Champions League, the FA Cup is going to start very soon so we have to take those very seriously at the same time, but we also want to concentrate on the league because we know we have to push up the table.’

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-ne ... l-obi.html