Latest news with #Mikel
Metro
3 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
John Obi Mikel calls for three more Chelsea signings but fears one star will go
John Obi Mikel hopes to see Chelsea make at least three more signings to prove there are legitimate Premier League title contenders next season. In Enzo Maresca's first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, the Blues showed signs they were ready to fight for English football's biggest prize once again but an alarming dip after the turn of the year saw their hopes of keeping pace with Liverpool fade quickly. They swiftly found themselves among the clutch of clubs scrapping for Champions League qualification but a strong end to the campaign saw them finish fourth, confirming their return to European football's top table next season. A Europa Conference League triumph further emboldened Maresca's young side with Liam Delap since joining the squad, choosing Chelsea over Manchester United. A Club World Cup campaign in the US will give them the chance to add more silverware with Mikel, part of some of the most successful squads in Chelsea history, convinced it can reignite a winning culture in the dressing room. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Chelsea's coffers will be filled to the tune of £100m if they end up winning the revamped competition with the former midfielder eager to see the money spent wisely. With Jadon Sancho returning to Manchester United, Mikel believes another winger is a must, along with a central midfielder. While Levi Cowill and Trevoh Chalobah finished the season formidably with Wesley Fofana injured again, the Nigerian believes the squad could also benefit from an experienced option at the back. 'I'm excited by the business the club has done. But if we can go again and win the Club World Cup, they can bring in more money and go again and spend,' Mikel told Metro. 'Bring in an experienced centre-back another midfield player and another winger. Jadon Sancho is going back to Manchester United, if we can bring in another winger who can take on players, create chances and score goals, that is what we need. 'We need to keep improving and I am sure Laurence Stewart, Paul Winstanley [Chelsea's co-sporting directors] and the guys there are working hard behind the scenes to bring in some really good players to improve the squad.' He continued: I think they are legitimate contenders and we should believe that. We have a great squad, a young team but a great squad, a team that has just tasted what it is like to win a trophy. 'Winning is about culture and that is what Chelsea Football Club is and we have to continue that culture. This young squad has now tasted what it feels like to win a trophy, I hope they can build on it because that creates a winning mentality around the squad.' Noni Madueke's return of 11 goals and five assists saw him emerge as an important component in that young attack, also forcing his way into the England picture. The 23-year-old found himself questioned and challenged by his manager on more than one occasion, however, warned over his performances in training in August before being dropped from the squad for a game against Aston Villa for similar reasons in December. Madueke now finds his future at Stamford Bridge uncertain with Newcastle United interested in bringing him to St James' Park. Mikel shares some of Maresca's concerns over the winger, insisting 'there is a lot of room for improvement' given the talent he has at his disposal. While he would like to see Madeuke remain part of the squad, the arrival of a new wide option could see him shown the door. 'I like him,' Mikel said of Madueke. 'There is a lot of room for improvement however, I think him as a player, he can definitely do more. He can do more defensively and in terms of scoring goals. Maybe there is a reason Maresca wants to get rid of him. 'There is a lot more expected from Noni. His relationship with the manager, all throughout the season there was a little bit of tension. But I liked that, he gave him that little kick up the backside. You have to get better. Your end product has to be better. More Trending 'Enzo knows Noni can do better, he knows there's a lot more there. I think Noni has taken it on board sometimes but he can do better. If he is the player that is going to have to be let go to bring in another top winger, it's not a bad idea but for me, I would keep him and bring in someone else. 'Because the talent is there. But he needs to perform week in week out. The manager knows better than anyone else, he must have seen something in him we haven't seen. Maybe how he trains, how he applies himself, I don't know, if that is going to happen, maybe there is a reason Maresca wants to get rid of him. But as a Chelsea fan, I keep him.' John Obi Mikel was speaking ahead of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Watch all 63 games live on DAZN for free. MORE: Man Utd set to beat Arsenal to signing of £60million transfer target MORE: Jack Grealish 'walks into Liverpool and Chelsea teams' with Man City exit looming MORE: Man Utd told to join race to sign £42m Arsenal transfer target
Metro
5 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Chelsea told to sell three recent signings in summer transfer window
Chelsea have been urged to sell three of the players they bought last summer in an effort to arm Enzo Maresca with a squad capable of challenging on all fronts. After a challenging first campaign at the helm, Enzo Maresca masterminded Champions League qualification and a major trophy after thier Coference League triumph. Maresca, himself, accepts, however, that Chelsea still have a considerable distance to travel if they are to achieve some of the loftier aims and ambitions held by the club's ownership as well as the likes of star players Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez. In order to make room to add an extra dose of quality to his ranks, Maresca has been advised to part company with three players whose arrivals he only sanctioned little over 12 months ago by Chelsea's former Champions League winning midfielder John Obi Mikel. Maresca appeared to have made a shrewd acquisition in defence last year when Chelsea snapped up Tosin Adarabioyo from local rivals Fulham but the former Nigeria international believes it is already time for a parting of ways. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. He told The Telegraph: 'Sell. For a free transfer, he was not a bad signing. But when I look at him I just think he is not…he's done reasonably well, but I just don't think at that Chelsea level. 'He's a good player, but not at the level to be a top Chelsea centre-back.' It is a similar story in the centre of the park for Mikel where Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who excelled for Maresca at Leicester in The Championship, found the step up in quality difficult to adjust to. 'He did well in the Championship with Leicester, but this is Chelsea Football Club,' said Mikel. 'He needs to go somewhere he can play and improve. Is he a good player? Yes. Is he a Chelsea player? Definitely not.' Up front, meanwhile, Joao Felix's second spell at the club turned out to be nothing short of an unmitigated disaster and was loaned to Milan in January. Mikel said: 'The reason why he came back to Chelsea, I have no idea. Spending £40-£50 million on bringing him back and letting him go on loan after a few months. I just don't understand it at all and how that happened. 'I'm sure Paul Winstanley and the rest of the guys have learnt from that, and not to make the same mistake again. He's been at the club twice now and not performed. It has to be sell.' More Trending The summer recruitment drive has already begun in earnest with Liam Delap's £30m arrival from Ipswich rubber stamped on Wednesday night with Chelsea having beaten Manchester United to the striker's signature. 'I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,' Delap told Chelsea's website. 'It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.' MORE: Man Utd make opening transfer offer of £45m to sign Premier League star MORE: Florian Wirtz clashes with Bruno Fernandes in Germany's Nations League loss to Portugal MORE: Chelsea told to make transfer 'exception' by signing £25m star
Metro
6 days ago
- Business
- Metro
John Obi Mikel backs Chelsea to sign two Man Utd stars and build best young team
John Obi Mikel would welcome the arrivals of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho at Chelsea to join the Blues' army of young stars. Chelsea's first season under Enzo Maresca ended in success, securing Champions League qualification through a fourth-place finish and bagging the Europa Conference League trophy to boot. Youth shone through with Chelsea officially the youngest team in Premier League history – the average age of their starting XIs during the course of the campaign was just 24 years and 36 days. There will be more new kids on the block in the coming weeks. Liam Delap is poised to arrive from Ipswich Town and will be joined by Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian, two of the brightest young talents in South American football. Delap is the old man of that group at the ripe old age of 22 with Geovany Quenda also set to arrive from Sporting CP next year. He is expected to arrive in time to play a part in Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign, kicking off on 16 June against Los Angeles FC with Mikel part of DAZN's broadcast team leading coverage for the revamped competition. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. The recruitment drive is expected to continue beyond that. Chelsea explored a move for Garnacho in January and have also been credited with interest in another of their burgeoning stars in Mainoo. Both could be available this summer, although there is a growing sense the England international will remain in Manchester. Amid a backdrop of chaos at Old Trafford this season, Mainoo has struggled to reach the heights of his breakout campaign under Erik ten Hag. Garnacho meanwhile may have sealed his own fate with his public criticism of Ruben Amorim that followed the Europa League final. Garnacho and Mainoo will improve Chelsea despite recent struggles With Chelsea a blossoming environment for youngsters, former Blues star Mikel is confident both players would thrive at Chelsea as they look to take the next step and challenge for the Premier League and Champions League next season. 'I like both of these players,' Mikel told Metro. 'I have no idea what the issue is with Garnacho and Ruben Amorim because for me he is one of the best players at Man United. The squad is what it is, and you want to get rid of Garnacho. Really? I can't see the sense in that because every time he plays he is a threat. 'The issue is probably the defensive side of his game but that is something you have to work with a young player on. To change their mentality to make sure their defensive responsibilities are taken seriously. 'With Kobbie Mainoo, maybe they feel they need to cash in on him to raise the funds. Maybe he did not have the season we all expected from him last season, he looked a shadow of the player he was when he first burst onto the scene. Again, I have no idea what the issue has been. The system, the manager? Is he not happy with the environment at the football club? 'There are so many factors you have to look at right now with Manchester United. If those are two players Chelsea want, I will take those two, definitely. They can only come in and improve us as a football club. I know if they come in, they will improve us as a team.' 'We have a great squad, a young team but a great squad, a team that has just tasted what it is like to win a trophy,' Mikel continued. 'The environment is so important when you have all these youngsters. It is not like someone is a superstar at this point. They are all young, there shouldn't be any ego. For them, it's a brilliant environment to develop. 'But you need a strong manager with a strong character that can deal with them and put them in their place when they are not doing things right. Maybe give them a little kick in the backside and tell them they have to wake up. Maresca has been that guy for me.' Chelsea saw off interest from a long list of teams to agree a deal with Delap, who will join the club for a modest fee of £30million. His arrival at Chelsea effectively signals an end to the club's interest in Victor Osimhen – a player Mikel has been desperate to see join his old side. Nicolas Jackson has been Maresca's main man up top, scoring 30 goals across his two seasons in west London. Mikel, who spent 11 years at Stamford Bridge, has often been accused of being the Senegal international's biggest critics, questioning his finishing ability in the past with Jackson telling the ex-midfielder to 'shut his mouth' last summer. But the former Blues star says his criticism is constructive. While Osimhen now appears to be off the table, he believes the presence of Delap is ideal to create a competitive culture at the focal point of Maresca's attack – one that will pay off for all involved. 'A lot of people think I am harsh on Jackson. I'm not!' Mikel said. 'What I have said is healthy competition is so important at the football club. In my days, we had Didier Drogba competing with Shevchenko, Fernando Torres, Nicolas Anelka. We had top strikers coming to the club to create that competitive environment. Which Drogba embraced. He knew he was the guy and he would eventually come out on top which he did. 'So I have always said that about Jackson, I have not tried to push him out of the door because he is a talent. He has shown he can play at this level but he does need someone to come in and push him, to create that competitive environment and I am sure the club has done that with Delap. More Trending 'For him to choose to come to Chelsea instead of Man United or Arsenal, it does show how strong we are right now. He has decided to come to a club that wins trophies and Chelsea right now are back doing that. He is young, he can only get better. I hope he can hit the ground running. Everyone knows who I wanted to come into the club but Chelsea decided to go another direction. Which is fine, I hope it works out for Delap and the club. We have to support him.' John Obi Mikel was speaking ahead of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Watch all 63 games live on DAZN for free. MORE: Chelsea respond to AC Milan transfer request for Mike Maignan MORE: Arsenal told to block Mikel Arteta's 'crazy' transfer move for Man Utd target MORE: Napoli eager to sign second Man Utd star after Alejandro Garnacho interest
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Keep or sell? John Obi Mikel's verdict on every player in the Chelsea squad
John Obi Mikel has promised to bring his outspoken approach to this summer's Club World Cup after delivering an exclusive no-holds-barred season audit on Chelsea's players, head coach, sporting directors and owners for Telegraph Sport. Since retiring from playing, Mikel, who won the Champions League and two Premier League titles with Chelsea, has launched a podcast in which he has not been afraid to dish out praise and criticism in equal measure. Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson told Mikel to 'shut your mouth' after the former midfielder criticised his finishing last August. But Mikel has continued to give his forthright views and has insisted that will not change when he works for DAZN at the Club World Cup. Mikel will be one of the pundits on DAZN's coverage of the tournament that Chelsea are competing in and he said: 'You have to be yourself and say it the way it is. I know sometimes people don't like the truth, but the truth is what gets you out of trouble, not into trouble. I will only continue to be myself. Trust me, I'm going to bring the fire.' Ahead of the tournament, Mikel has exclusively given his verdict on whether to keep, loan or sell each Chelsea player and has graded head coach Enzo Maresca, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and co-controlling owners Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly. Find out which players Mikel does not believe are 'Chelsea level', who he believes is the best in the Premier League and the 'mistake' he hopes the club has learned from. Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards Mikel grades Chelsea chiefs
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea pair were ‘Mr. and Mrs' and ‘drove each other mad' in rows over moisturising cream but arguments HELPED squad
CHELSEA need brotherhood, shower gel and plenty of moisturising cream to get back to the summit of football. Legendary Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel believes dressing room chemistry is the key to success on the pitch. And he can see it brewing in the current squad. 4 Chelsea legends John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou had a funny feud 4 Mikel and Kalou's friendly feud created morale in Chelsea's dressing room 4 Mikel insists the current Chelsea team need a similar dressing room 4 Kalou and Mikel had some hilarious exchanges He was part of the all-conquering Chelsea team which landed title after title, cup after cup during his 11 years at Stamford Bridge. But small details are behind big wins and Mikel revealed how his bizarre relationship with Salomon Kalou epitomised the strong bonds between the players of the time. Together they won the Champions League, Premier League and four FA Cups when team spirit was the fear factor which often made the difference in key games. Mikel, 38, said: 'It is very important, the friendship between your teammates in the squad, because It brings you guys together. 'The chemistry is there, not just the chemistry on the pitch, the chemistry outside the pitch because you already know your partner, your team-mates. 'You know what they like and what they don't like. How to approach them in terms of when they're not performing, 'How do you get them to wake up? Do you go to them? Do you scream at them, or is it like a quiet word you need to have and get them to keep going? 'So that relationship is very important. And of course, Salomon Kalou, what can I say about the guy? Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge 'Listen, we were Mr and Mrs at the football club, we were called Tom and Jerry. 'He drives me mad, a guy I absolutely love. I can never say a bad word about Salomon Kalou. Here is why Liam Delap is the perfect striker for Chelsea 'He never bought his own shower gel, his own cream, he always went to my locker and nicked mine. 'I'd finish having a shower and I go to my locker trying to get my cream, it's not there. Salomon Kalou's nicked it. 'Sometimes it's fine to use it, but please, return it to my locker. He didn't. 'And when I go to him and ask where's my cream? He says, 'buy another one'. I'm like, 'what? Why don't you buy yourself your own cream?' 'He just drove me mad. But then on the pitch, when you're that honest and open with each other, on the pitch, you know each other so well, right and it helps so much. 'I'd love to see the players create that friendship, that chemistry between each other. Looking at this team squad, They're young but I can see a little bit that they have that. Chelsea's legendary parties 'I need to see a bit more. It's so important to create that atmosphere.' Where Mikel won, lost and partied alongside superstars like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, modern day Chelsea is about building reputations through ambitious young players like Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and soon-to-arrive Liam Delap. Mikel said: 'We enjoyed good times together. We went out to central London every time we won a trophy. We celebrated quite heavily because we were successful and were given a licence to go out and enjoy ourselves. 'That brought that chemistry together because every year, every other year, we had something to celebrate. We were always winning something. So we were always having a massive party come the end of the season. That brought us together. 'They have to win trophies in order to be able to bring that chemistry in the squad.' New Chelsea have started the process by qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Conference League. Club World Cup opportunities But the post-match party was tame by previous standards, mainly because a lot of the players are now on international duty before travelling to next week's Club World Cup. The month-long tournament in the US Club World Cup railroads through the traditional summer. Mikel said: 'It's silverware to be won and we want to go out and compete to win it. 'We have to talk about the prize money as well. Almost £100million. That puts you in a great advantage in terms of in the summer, transfer window, bringing in players, strengthening your squad. There's a lot there for these players to think about. 'I know we players talk about having a rest, which we should. But we actually don't rest when we go on holidays. 'We fly back to our different continents where we're from, countries where we're from. 'And then we go back after a week or a few days, playing locally with the local teams where we grew up from, kicking the ball about, playing five-a-side, ten-a-side games. 'You don't want to rest for two, three weeks without doing anything. When you come back for pre-season, it takes you even longer to get in shape. 'During the summer, you're looking at yourself thinking, I need to get back into it. You start running, you start playing football and make sure you come back, so that it doesn't take you a long time to get back into shape. We all did that. I get it, I understand. 'The Club World Cup, for the teams involved, it's a great opportunity, a great way for those teams to keep their players fit, keep them ticking over, knowing that when the season starts, they are almost half there.' John Obi Mikel was speaking ahead of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Watch all 63 games live on DAZN for free.
