Jamie Redknapp: Mikel is Chelsea's platform to build their attacks
The Nigerian midfielder has gradually become a more influential figure in the new Chelsea team While the controversy rages on whether Referee Mark Clattenberg used inappropriate language on Mikel Obi, the Nigerian midfielder has continued to win plaudits with commentators on the game.
One of these commentators is former England and Liverpool midfielder, Jamie Redknapp, who said in the Daily Mail that; “The player who caught my eye on Sunday was John Obi Mikel.”
Chelsea have been lauded this season for playing a more attractive brand of football than the said defensive mode they used to win the Champions League last season and Redknapphas come out to say that Obi is the reason why Chelsea look better this season.
“While there is so much focus on the attacking trio of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar, these guys could not do what they do without a platform.
“Mikel is that platform,” Redknapp added.
“He has come into his own since Roberto Di Matteo took over and nobody has benefited more from the change in manager.
“He played in only half the games of Andre Villas-Boas’s reign and was often left out for big matches, with Oriol Romeu preferred.
“But Mikel [Obi] was brought back in by Di Matteo and he has since played in 30 of the Italian’s 36 games in charge. He was essential for Chelsea’s FA Cup and Champions League victories.
“Against Bayern Munich in the final he was the best player on the pitch.
“Mikel [Obi] is a real unsung hero in that team. A player made for the Premier League.,” Redknapp concluded.