An ode to Obi

Everybody was surprised when Michael Essien handed the captain's armband to John Obi Mikel on Sunday.

Even Jose Mourinho admitted after the game that by right Ashley Cole should have received it when the Ghanaian was substituted.

But Mikel and Cole were both signed by Mourinho in July 2006 and it's clear that the former, rather than the latter, will play the more crucial part in a Chelsea title bid.

During the past seven-and-a-half years, since signing as a 19-year-old, Mikel has matured immensely.

He's 26 at the moment - 27 in April - and approaching the peak of his career.

Everybody was even more surprised, on Sunday, when Mikel scored; his header was only his fourth Chelsea goal, arriving in his 300th game.

Mikel is the fourth non-British player to reach that total for Chelsea, behind undisputed club legends Petr Cech (459 appearances), Didier Drogba (341) and Gianfranco Zola (312).

He has been consistently selected since he joined, by no less than eight managers. Mourinho, Hiddink, Ancelotti and the rest can't all be wrong.

And yet Mikel still divides opinion among Chelsea supporters. Many chide him if he ever misplaces a pass and wonders what he adds to the team.

Perhaps this is a hangover from his early, ill-disciplined days, where he would lunge in rashly for tackles and pick up red cards.

The transfer itself was controversial; he had signed for Manchester United from Lyn Oslo, but Chelsea had agreed a deal with his agent.

A press conference where Mikel sported a Red Devils' shirt only clouded the matter and after lengthy legal wrangles, Chelsea eventually emerged with their prize - at a cost of £4million to Lyn and £12m to United.

Subsequently, Lyn director Morgan Andersen was convicted of fraud and Chelsea issued a High Court Claim against him and the club, to try and recoup the money.

The matter was settled out of court, confidentially, but it likely means that Chelsea paid less than £16m for the defensive midfielder - a pittance given his service over the years.

It did not appear that way at first though; despite Mourinho putting his faith in Mikel, playing him 42 times in his debut season in England, the player's attitude was not quite right.

He was late to training a handful of times and on the pitch some of his decision making left plenty to be desired.

Mikel was booked nine times and sent off twice in 2006-07, and had two reds the following season with eight bookings (39 games). He hasn't been red carded since, and now averages seven yellow cards a season

As his discipline improves, his awareness of the game and his surroundings increases as well. Or perhaps it's the other way around.

Mikel is composed - he can receive the ball under pressure from several opposition players, drawing them in, before sliding it along to a team-mate in a better position.

This draws criticism that he can only pass sideways or backwards, but if Chelsea are trying to keep possession those balls are crucial.

He is a player that Chelsea's defence can trust to come deep and sit in amongst them if needed, someone who never hides and will always make himself available for a pass.

You notice when Mikel does make a mistake or misplace a pass, because it's so rare for him to do so.

Mikel is the best screen in front of the defence that Chelsea have - and is one of the best in the world at this role.

Ramires makes plenty of tackles but when he's left as the most defensive player in the Blues' midfield, they can look exposed.

Following in the master's - Makelele - footsteps was always going to be difficult but some Chelsea supporters may not appreciate what Mikel offers until it is gone.

As you will know, in his youth, Mikel used to be an attacking midfielder. Mourinho saw the potential for him to play as an anchorman and deployed him there from the start.

It does lead people to wonder why he hasn't contributed more goals and assists, but given his role in the side it's safety first for Mikel.

However, given his aerial prowess, he should have scored more goals from set piece situations, like the one against Derby County, rising to nod home Willian's free kick.

Andersen had stated, during the transfer debacle: 'Alex Ferguson said to me that Mikel would be the new Roy Keane and he was offered a contract that was even better than the one they gave Cristiano Ronaldo when he came to the club.'

Perhaps a weakness is his speed; Mikel is not the quickest, and, infrequently, still throws himself into tackles which he might not be able to win.

Mikel is also a big game player. His finest performance to date for the club came in the Champions League final, against Bayern Munich, the greatest night in Chelsea's history.

He was arguably man of the match on that day, although Didier Drogba's brilliant equaliser and cup-winning penalty kick overshadowed him on that day.

That's often the story for Mikel. A quiet, under-appreciated but crucial part of a trophy-winning side

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