Conte supported my decision to play at Rio 2016 Olympics, says Mikel

Rohr clarifies position on Chelsea manager

Super Eagles’ Captain, John Obi Mikel, has taken to his twitter handle to debunk reports credited to Coach Gernot Rohr that Chelsea Manager, Antonio Conte, is punishing him because he opted to play for Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Mikel, who was a regular starter for Chelsea under interim coach, Guus Hiddink, last season, has not played in a single league game for the Blues this season.

Disclosing that there is a mutual respect between Conte and himself, Mikel said in the statement that:
“I’d like to clarify the recent media claims I have been punished by Chelsea FC for participating at the Rio 2016 Olympics are completely inaccurate.

“Unfortunately, comments made by Gernot Rohr before yesterday’s 3-1 win over Algeria were both mistranslated and taken out of context by the Nigerian media, as English isn’t Mr. Rohr’s or much of the Nigerian media’s first language.

“To be absolutely clear, Mr. Conte and Chelsea were always fully supportive of my captaincy of the Nigerian team at Rio.“The manager gave me his full blessing to participate at the Olympics, and even encouraged me to bring back the gold medal – something I spoke to the media about at the time.

“It goes without saying there is nothing but absolute respect between myself, the Nigerian national team and Chelsea FC, something that was demonstrated by Mr. Rohr’s recent visit to Cobham.

“My only focus now is on winning more silverware with Chelsea and getting Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup, two challenges I can’t wait to face in the coming months.”

Also reacting to the reports, Rohr, whose initial comments sparked the story, told a local website that he was quoted out of context. He, however, admitted using the word ‘punish’ when describing the reason Mikel has not played for Chelsea this season.

Rohr said, “I was quoted out of context. Perhaps the word ‘punish’ might have come too strongly. But I meant it in a larger sense of the price he is paying for his participation in the Olympics.

“What I was trying to say was that we should all acknowledge the commitment of the team captain to the national team and the price that he might have had to pay, missing action for his club in the time he was in the Olympics.”