Mikel moves to save Chelsea career
Out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Mikel
Obi has held showdown talks with Blues manager Antonio Conte after
being frozen out of the team by the Italian.
The Nigeria captain has yet to play a
single Premier League match for the Stamford Bridge side since the
beginning of the season.
Mikel revealed on Monday that he had been working hard to play his way back into the team.
“Fighting every day for my place, like all the guys are. Focus, work hard,” the 2013 Europa League winner wrote on Twitter.
Former Italy manager Conte is allegedly
not happy with the 29-year-old for opting to represent Nigeria at the
Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where he helped the national Under-23 team win
bronze (Nigeria’s only medal at the competition).
Mikel, who was signed from Norwegian
side Lyn Oslo by the then manager of Chelsea Jose Mourinho in 2016,
has however turned in a pair of impressive performances for the Super
Eagles, guiding them to a 1-0 victory over Tanzania in their 2017
Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo in September followed by their
2-1 win against Zambia in their 2018 World Cup qualifier in Ndola on
October 9.
With criticisms flying from all
directions for his lack of match action at his London club, the 2012
UEFA Champions League winner, who got plenty of playing time under
Dutchman Guus Hiddink, has apparently moved to save his club career.
Mikel is competing with in-form N’Golo
Kante and Nemanja Matic for a role in defensive midfield and the
player, who represented Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil,
confirmed on Tuesday he had spoken to Conte about his frustrations at
the club.
“I hope I will get some playing time against West Ham, but it is down to the manager,” the Evening Standard quoted him as saying.
“He has been open and honest with me. I respect him for that. He has explained the situation and I totally understand.
“When you have been at a club for a long time, these things happen where a club wants to move forward.
“I just have to be professional, work as
hard as I can to try and get into the team. I work twice as hard every
day and it’s because I appreciate this club.”
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