Captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria John Obi Mikel has spoken out about his time at Chelsea and the various manager he played under during his ten and half year stay.
Mikel who now plays for Chinese side Tianjin Teda says while it was former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho that converted him to a defensive midfielder, his best football was under manager Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo.
“There was a massive difference. Scolari wanted me to express myself the most. Under him, and Ancelotti and [Roberto] Di Matteo, I played some of my best football. Jose is all about balance. If I’m in his team, that’s what I’m doing, and that’s fine by me,” he said.
Mikel also listed Juventus Legend Allesandro Del Piero as the best number 10 he played against during his stay at Chelsea as a defensive midfielder.
“Alessandro Del Piero was the best. I played against him a couple of times when he was at Juventus. He was close to retirement, but he just was so clever. He was finding space behind me every time to get the ball. I’d think ‘I’ve got him’ but then he’d just do something. I was inexperienced, he was very experienced, and he was just too clever for me. I was trying to beat him with energy, but he could beat me with his head”.
