After many days of negative reviews, Nigeria midfielder, Mikel Obi, is getting rave reviews following his performance in a UEFA Champions League game he started for Chelsea against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday. The midfielder scored his team’s third goal in the match the Stamford Bridge team won by 3-1 and ensured they led their group into the Round of 16.
Mikel’s Super Eagles teammate, Sone Aluko, is one of those who have hailed the player for his performance so far. Aluko of Hull City who made his view known via his Twitter handle said that Mikel has been highly underrated by Nigerians stating that his long stay at highly rated Chelsea is surely a proof of his worth.
He wrote, “Massively underrated in my opinion amongst Nigerians. There’s a reason he’s been at Chelsea so long! It’s not easy o.”
The Wednesday night goal was Mikel’s first-ever goal in Europe for Chelsea. Mikel scored the goal in the 55th minute when he tapped into an empty net off Cahil’s flick header from Cesc Fabregas free kick. Before he scored the goal, he had played 55 UEFA Champions League game for Chelsea.
In all, he has now scored five goals for the Stamford Bridge team in more than 300 appearances since he arrived in London in 2006. He scored three goals in the FA Cup, one in the EPL and now one in the Champions League.
Last Saturday he started his first Premier League match this season for Chelsea in the match against Newcastle and his team lost by 2-1. That result left fans talking until his performance on Wednesday. The Nigerian has been largely criticised for being too defensively minded on the pitch as against many others in his role who also spearhead attacks.
Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, who hailed Mikel and his teammates has told Sky Sports he is keen to avoid one of the “sharks” lurking in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Monday’s draw will pair Chelsea against either Juventus, PSG, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen or Shakhtar Donetsk.
“We don’t fear anybody, but we know there are very good, strong teams still in this competition,” Mourinho said.
“Last year we were close and we didn’t have the team playing at such a high level as we do this season, so we can dream we will do it. But let’s see if the sharks let us, because there are a few sharks in the ocean.”
Asked if he likes swimming with sharks, Mourinho said, “Yes, I like. In a cage. I did it in French Polynesia. I didn’t want to go, but my wife and my kids, they pushed me.”