Former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea legend, Mikel Obi, has expressed his support for Chelsea as they navigate through their recent struggles in the Premier League.
Mikel returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving the club in 2017, playing in a novelty match where Chelsea legends defeated their Bayern Munich counterparts 4-0. Goals were scored by Michael Essien, John Terry, Gary Cahill, and Tiago Mended for Chelsea.
After the game, Mikel, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea in 2009/10 and 2014/15, backed the team to bounce back.
“It’s always nice to come back, I haven’t been back since I left, so it’s always nice to come back to see the fans and also play on this pitch. It was like yesterday; it just brings back the memories,” Mikel said.
He added humorously, “They need to bring us back.”
Mikel expressed confidence in Chelsea’s ability to recover from their current challenges, emphasizing that the club is undergoing a significant transition and that young players need time to develop and gel as a team.
“They will be fine. I think the club is obviously going through a massive transition, so we need to give them time. A lot of good and fantastic young players, we need to give them time to make sure they get the time to work and gel together as a team. Once we are able to do that, I think we would be back unbeaten again,” Mikel stated.
Despite retiring from professional football in 2022, Mikel showcased his skills during the game, drawing praise from former captain John Terry, who jokingly suggested he join a Saudi club.
Mikel played for Chelsea from 2006 to 2017, making 249 appearances and scoring one goal, while winning 11 titles with the club.
