Saturday, 7 January 2017

John Mikel Obi: A decade of success


A Tribute Written By Chelsea FC

John Mikel Obi possessed the happy knack of saving his very best performances for when it mattered most. His big-game ability was never more evident than in May 2012 when we lifted the Champions League for the first time in our history. His outstanding display in the final against Bayern Munich was a key factor in our success that year, and he produced similarly titanic performances in many European and domestic cup finals and semi-finals during his 10-and-a-half seasons at the Bridge.

Signed in the summer of 2006 by Jose Mourinho, the 19-year-old Mikel moved to west London from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo as a talented, raw, powerfully-built attacking midfielder. Mourinho quickly outlined his desire to play the Nigerian in a holding midfield role, however, and it was in that position that he would be deployed in the years to come.


Despite the presence in our squad of arguably the greatest defensive midfielder of all time, Claude Makelele, Mikel still made over 40 appearances in his first season, and he more or less maintained that level of consistency when it came to playing time throughout his Chelsea career.

He smoothed out some rough edges both on and off the pitch in the early part of his time in England. As a long and dramatic first campaign reached its climax, Mikel started eight of our last nine games - including both legs of our Champions League semi-final defeat to Liverpool – evidence of his growing importance in the team.

The season ended on a high note when we beat Manchester United in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley. Mikel survived a pre-match injury scare to play the full 120 minutes, shining in midfield alongside Makelele and helping restrict that season’s league champions to almost no clear opportunities. He was named Chelsea Young Player of the Year. 

By the end of the following term he had played more games in the ‘Makelele’ role than the old master of the position, and top displays were commonplace in 2008/09. Makelele left for PSG and with Michael Essien injured for much of the campaign, Mikel became the permanent anchor man.

His assurance in front of the back four played a decisive role as we kept seven consecutive clean sheets away from home in the Premier League before Christmas, still a top-flight record. Mikel did not miss a minute of that impressive run.

Under the stewardship of Guus Hiddink, Mikel continued to flourish, most notably in the Nou Camp, where we kept a clean sheet in the first leg of our Champions League semi-final with Barcelona, and at Wembley, where his calm touch was a major contribution to the 2009 FA Cup win over Everton.

Further injury to Essien in 2009/10 ensured that for the second season running Mikel was the primary choice as deep-lying midfielder, and he rewarded new manager Carlo Ancelotti with a series of fine performances during the Double-winning campaign, including in famous victories at the Emirates and Old Trafford.

On his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in February, where Nigeria exited at the semi-final stage, he started every game until his own knee and ankle problems in mid-April ruled him out of the season's two-trophy climax, and the first African World Cup Finals. He did however have his first league championship winners' medal, and in a season spent in a highly-competitive area of the pitch he was only booked four times, further evidence his own on-pitch discipline problems were long behind him.

Mikel passed the 200-game milestone for Chelsea during 2010/11, a season in which he started all but 10 league games. We ended that season trophyless but the same could not be said of the following campaign, which climaxed in that night in Munich.

When backs-to-the-wall performances were required in tense end-of-season Champions League affairs, Mikel delivered, helping the team to a fine away win against Benfica, an extraordinary draw at the Nou Camp and in the final itself, when he produced his finest performance in a Chelsea shirt as we won the trophy for the very first time. 

He also lifted his fourth FA Cup, playing the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 victory over Liverpool. His skill and awareness in midfield created space for Lampard to in turn tee up Didier Drogba for what proved to be the game’s decisive goal.

Mikel was rewarded for his longstanding consistency and commitment in Chelsea blue with a new five-year contract in December 2012, and there was further cause for celebration when Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations in February 2013. He played all but one minute of the Super Eagles’ victorious campaign in South Africa and was widely hailed afterwards as the tournament’s outstanding player. 

The man who had first managed Mikel at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho, returned to Chelsea ahead of the 2013/14 season and the Nigerian celebrated with his first goal since January 2007, when he netted in successive rounds of the FA Cup. His controlled volley in a 2-0 win over Fulham at the Bridge was met with unbridled joy both on the pitch and in the stands.

Often trusted by Mourinho to come on as we sought to close out a positive result, Mikel reached 300 Chelsea appearances in a memorable 2-0 FA Cup triumph at Derby in January 2014. When Essien was replaced with the game goalless, Mikel took over the captain’s armband for the first time in his Chelsea career and promptly scored his second goal of an increasingly profitable season in that department, heading home Willian’s free-kick to set us on our way to victory. 

Mikel again showed his appetite for the big occasion as the season approached its climax, excelling both in our Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid, and then five days later as we secured a famous victory at Anfield.

Though never a regular in the Premier League and Capital One Cup-winning 2014/15 campaign, Mikel’s experience proved critical especially when the result was in the balance. Standout individual moments came courtesy of a delightful backheel assist to set up Diego Costa in a big win at Goodison Park, and his first Champions League goal against Sporting Lisbon.

A more noteworthy European strike followed in February 2016, away to PSG, and it was during the second half of last season that Mikel helped steady the ship, under the returning Hiddink, after a tumultuous start to our title defence. His performances earned plenty of praise from his manager, as well as the supporters, who sung his name as often as anyone’s.

Mikel did not feature for Chelsea this term but captained Nigeria to a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, adding yet another accolade to his extensive collection.

In total, Mikel made 372 appearances for the club - the 17th-highest figure of anyone in our history - and won 10 major honours. He leaves with the respect and appreciation of those who managed him, played alongside him and watched him during his decade-long stay at Stamford Bridge. 

3 comments:

toolz store said...

We have The Best STORE to sell Spam Tools
don't get riped by fake people, buy on
https://Toolz.Store
over store offered best and guaranteed tools for spamming, clcik below Links to see on on site
private tutorials
even if you are very new to this, and dont have idea about tools here you will find private tutorialsCpanel
Scam Pages / Phishing site
Inbox Sender like_SMTP, Web Mailer, PHP Mailer, zimbra Webmail
Private RDP thats never Die, We have over own Private Hosting
Virus & Crypters, FUD Services and private Office Exploits like Doc, PDF, xls and xla
=========reach Us Via===========
Whatsapp: +12034082334
ICQ: 659915666
skype: alfaz999
================================
=========https://toolz.store===========
best store to buy spam tools
=========reach Us Via===========
Whatsapp: +12034082334
ICQ: 659915666
skype: alfaz999
================================
CPANEL
SCAM PAGE
INBOX SENDER
RDP
Leads
VIRUS-BOTNET
PRIVATE TUTORIALS
==========================================
Microsoft office 365, auto link and powerful encrypted scam page

Domain RDP-with unlimited email sending ,sandblaster you can use the RDP...

private virus builder and keyloger (its a RAT)

very Powerfull, Private Rat & keylogger version 1.6 you will get...

china mail box -auto grab scam page ,

get china Ceo and Cfo mail logs this is the best Page to spam for...

Spam tutorial--using scam page, step by step guide to beginner, here is...

RDP-usa-newyork with unlimited email sending tool (ip:104.128.**.104
Get very strong and powerful RDP with unlimited email sending tool yes,...

Vodafone Uk , scam page for fullz
Vodafone scam page for UK Fullz including Email & Password very...

ssl-cpanel: barberoaut**.com.ar very strong
fresh SSL secured cpanel for scam page bulletproof hosting never get red...

=======Scam Pages===============
TD Bank, Usa 2019 built proof, encrypted,...$50.00

Wells Fargo. 2019 built proof, encrypted,...$35.00

CHASE bank. 2019 strong and encrypted,auto...$42.00

BANK OF AMERICA. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$35.00

Citibank. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page,...$50.00

PNC BANK NA. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$33.00

CAPITAL ONE BANK NA. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$45.00

HSBC BK USA. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$42.00

SUN TRUST BK. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$47.00

FIFTH THIRD BKs. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$60.00

FIRST REPUBLIC BK. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$41.00

CIBC BK USAUSA. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$36.00

BANK OF THE WEST/BNP PARIBAS USA. 2019 built proof,encrypted, scam page...$50.00

our time dating site scam page,encrypted and auto link...$20.00

Vodafone Uk , scam page for fullz...$35.00

china mail box -auto grab scam page , NEW...$30.00

Microsoft office 365, auto link and powerful encrypted scam page NEW...$38.00
https://Toolz.Store
=========https://toolz.store===========
best store to buy spam tools
=========reach Us Via===========
Whats app: +12034082334
ICQ: 659915666
Skype: alfaz999
https://Toolz.Store

ujoh said...




Hello,

If you are finding it difficult to make steady incomes money from sport betting online.

Here is an alternative way for you to start making an extra incomes profits of $500, $1000, $10000 daily without you risking your money online http://www.virtatrade.com/index.php. from the trading of virta stock Your daily Profits making is 100% guarantee.

Here will serve you as an alternative source of steady incomes that will backup your sport betting business online.

BELOW IS HOW THE TRADING OF VIRTA STOCK WORK FOR PROFITS MAKING:

You buy your virta stock from this modern company platform at virta stock current market price and You will receive the next sales price you will use to sell your virta stock when the virta stock market price have risen up to meetup with your selling price in your trading account.

Once the virta stock market price have rise up to meetup with your selling sales price in your trading account, you will sell your virta stock at the market price and make your instant profit. No RISK TRADING.


You can withdraw your profit daily from a minimum of $1 and above.

THE BUYING AND THE SELLING OF A VIRTA STOCK IS 100% PROFIT MAKING GUARANTEE
NO RISK

Virta stock trading does not involve risk trading where traders need to trade with either to loss or gain.

All you do is to sell your virta stock and make your instant profits.

I make my every day profits incomes of $100 from the buying and the selling of virta stock as my extra source of incomes to my bitcoin wallet every day as a sport stake.

I recommend this trading platform for you as your alternative source of incomes when you are into sport betting.

Visit and register with the company website here http://www.virtatrade.com/index.php and test their platform with just $1 and see how it work great for profits incomes making online.

Anonymous said...

AFRO DATE AGENCY(08107906879)
GET CONNECTED TO THE MOST RICHEST SUGAR MUMMIES, SUGAR DADDIES, GAYS & LESBIAN CONNECTION SERVICES BALOGUN JOSEPH... 08107906879
WE HAVE CONNECTION IN ALL THE STATE IN NIGERIA, GHANA, COTONOU, TOGO, CAMEROUN, IVORY COAST AND SOUTH ffAFRICA, WE ALSO HAVE SERVICES IN BOTH EUROPE AND AMERICAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS USA, UK, GERMANY, BRAZIL, HOLLAND, CANADA, MALAYSIA AND SOME OTHER OVERSEA COUNTRIES, MAXIMUM SECURITY IS GUARANTEE FROM ANY SERVCE WE GIVE TO YOU ,this is a 1st class dating Organisation, registered, licenced, we have top class people, both men and women, boys and girls, looking for opportunity to mingle and be friends, we have high class and rich sugar mummies, sugar daddies and lesbian single ladies and mummies, who are top shots, the likes ofpoliticians, directors, bankers, managers, executives, enterpreneur, oil barons, we have clients outside nigeria in Uk, South Africa, Ghana, Beninrepublic, Dubai, USA, AfroDate has track records of providing you with the elite money clients in our organisation, peolpe willing to assist you financially, help you in procuring contracts, job Opportunities, business opportunity and even assisting you above your limit, we remain reliable, capable at what we do and we remain the only registered Dating Agency in Nigeria, rated number 1 by google and also awarded by Ovasion magazine and naija entertainment for best coordinated and secure dating agency and the only agency registered on Vconnect in Nigeria, with track records of testimonies on our website and the only agency with a Facebook like page and a personal Facebook with office in Abuja and office in Tamale ghana, we have clientsLagos, Abuja, Calabar, port, Benin, Delta, Ibadan, Kwara, Jos, Kaduna, Osun, Lokoja, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and also in Benue state, we look forward in meeting you at our office and offering you a 1st class reliable service with guaranteed outcome, you are also advised to check us upVanguardonline, Thisday, ekolist, hint, and also on the lagos city magazine, we have qualified hands that can assist you in your request and if you want singles relationship within your age range that might lead to relationship and even marriage its practically free on the website just go and create a free profile for yourself, but if you want our advance services such as sugar mummies and daddies its only for registered members only, we also assist you in getting Fashion jobs, modeling jobs, ushering jobs and also helping you and training you in being a brand ambassador.welcome to LOVE CONNECT SUGAR MUMMY AGENCY were your dreams can be realised, and heaven help those who help themselvesStart calling its your chance dial 08107906879 - for Nigerians onlyinternational calls only +2348107906879,Facebook id--Balogun Kunle Joseph
Official Magazine---loveconnection Magazine
Mobile Phone NUmber--08107906879