Rohr reveals why Chelsea coach is ‘punishing’ Mikel Obi
John Mikel Obi
Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has revealed the reason behind John Mikel Obi’s current travails at English Premier League club, Chelsea.
Mikel, the current Super Eagles captain, has yet to make a substitute appearance for Chelsea in all competitions this season despite featuring fleetingly for the Stamford Bridge club in pre-season.
Rohr has now explained that Mikel has failed to play competitively for Chelsea so far this season because the club’s manager, Antonio Conte, “is punishing him” for representing Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Mikel was Nigeria’s captain at the 2016 Olympics, impressing as the “Dream Team” won the country’s only medal – a Bronze – at the Games.
“I spoke about this with Mikel and the club’s technical director (Michael Emenalo). Mikel is training very well and he plays games in training with the big players at Chelsea.
“There is a reason why Mikel is not playing for Chelsea right now and that reason is because he played for Nigeria at the (2016) Olympics.
“He was punished for that (by Conte) “I cannot punish a player who loves his country and shows that he loves the Green jersey,” Rohr said at a press conference yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s FIFA World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Algeria in Uyo.
Rohr then hinted that the Chelsea man is certain to start tomorrow against the Fennec Foxes.The trainer, however, stated that he is not certain if Mikel will play the entire game or be substituted at some point against the Algerians.“He (Mikel) is here with us and he is fit and I hope he can play for 90 minutes against Algeria, but if it is not possible, we shall see.
“He is a big player so if he tells me on Saturday he can play for 90 minutes, great but if he says he cannot, then I will also listen to him.“If he is substituted, we have other players who can come in for us so it is not really a problem for us.
“I have seen Mikel in the training sessions and he is okay and fit.“He played a lot of games at the beginning of the season at the Olympics and has also played two games with us (Super Eagles) against Zambia and Tanzania.
“I have big confidence in him and if he says ‘it is okay’, then it is okay but when he says ‘it is not okay’ then it is not and I will listen to him,” Rohr explained.
Related
Sport
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
11 Comments
Suffering for the wrong reason, can Nigeria rescue you now? too bad Mikel spend his money for his so called dear country and he is being punished for that,
No coach will bench a good player in a competitive setting like d premiership.
Just like yaya toure.
Yaya Toure is far past his best and you cannot prefer him to Fernandinho or David Silver or even Kevin De Bruyne at this time…these are the three people occupying the three roles he can play effectively in the team!
If
you want to discuss football,discuss football and not sentiments,mikel
doesnt fit into the manager’s plans,live with it,the club comes first
and still on the subject of mikel,where was the super intelligent rohr
when jose mourinho was benching mikel,even playing zouma ahead of mikel
in midfield,rohr should shut his mouth and get on with coaching his
team,mikel has been a squad player at cfc since time immemorial maybe
rohr should advice his captain to move on rather than talking thrash
I respect you, but I don’t believe you.
I believe Rohr doesn’t know what he is saying. Such statements are baseless. New coaches come with new tactics. Yes there may be a fall-out with players but Conte isn’t like that. If Fabregas who has a much better pedigree than Mikel can be benched why can’t Mikel. Truth is it Mikel wants to play professional football he needs to bone the money and leave Chelsea for another club where he can get a first team slot. If not he will continue to operate from the bench that’s if he will even get the chance.
Intelligent. Thank u. No coach will bench a good player, bcos the ultimate goal in football is to win.
so, is Nigeria worth dying for????
+2349036574744 BREAKING NEWS!! CLEAN VEHICLEs F0R SALE
AT AFF0RDABLE PRICES AND IN A G00D W0RKING,
RECRUITMENT FORM IS OUT FOR SALES C0NDITI0N,WE SELL
ALL KIND 0F T0KUNB0 AND BRAND NEW VEHICLES, E.G
T0y0ta matrix= 45O,OOO T0y0ta sienna=6OO,OOO T0y0ta
camry= 25O,OOO, T0y0ta corolla= 4OO,OOO, T0y0ta Avenis=
55O,OOO. T0y0ta highlander=7OO,OOO, T0y0ta
tacoma=85O,OOO, T0y0ta hilux=75O,OOO, T0y0ta
rav4=75O,OOO Prado=9OO,OOO. Venza= 75O,OOO, G0lf4=
30O,OOO T0y0ta Aval0n= 45O,OOO, Lexus350 65O,OOO
Lexus RX330=65O,OOO, T0y0ta Hiace bus=7OO,OOO, H0nda
accord=45O,OOO, INFINITI FX35=95O,OOO, H0nda evil
spirit=6OO,OOO H0ndaCRV= 85O,OOO, H0nda baby
boy=5OO,OOO COaster bus 1.MILL0N, Range
Rover=95O,OOO. Nissan pathfinder=9OO, OOO, Nissan
altima=95OO,OOO Mercedes Benz=5OO,OOO Hummer
Bus=8OO,OOO, AND MANY M0RE, NOTE(All VEHICLES
ENGINES ARE IN G00D C0NDITI0N, AND WE MAKE DELIVERY
AS WELL)F0r m0re inf0rmati0n please call CUSTOM 0n:+2349036574744 REVEREL MOSES…….
Nobody is “punishing” Mikel. Rohr should concentrate on his allotted task and stop dredging up trouble. Mikel shouldn’t expect to waltz into the team after being away, especially during the crucial formative period of Conte’s takeover … if he wants a place in the present lineup (even as a sub) he’s got to show he can fit in without disrupting the dynamics of the current formation
We will review and take appropriate action.