Everybody was surprised when Michael Essien
handed the captain's armband to John Obi Mikel
on Sunday.
Even Jose Mourinho admitted after the game
that by right Ashley Cole should have received it
when the Ghanaian was substituted.
But Mikel and Cole were both signed by
Mourinho in July 2006 and it's clear that the
former, rather than the latter, will play the more
crucial part in a Chelsea title bid.
During the past seven-and-a-half years, since
signing as a 19-year-old, Mikel has matured
immensely.
He's 26 at the moment - 27 in April - and
approaching the peak of his career.
Everybody was even more surprised, on Sunday,
when Mikel scored; his header was only his
fourth Chelsea goal, arriving in his 300th game.
Mikel is the fourth non-British player to reach
that total for Chelsea, behind undisputed club
legends Petr Cech (459 appearances), Didier
Drogba (341) and Gianfranco Zola (312).
He has been consistently selected since he
joined, by no less than eight managers.
Mourinho, Hiddink, Ancelotti and the rest can't
all be wrong.
And yet Mikel still divides opinion among Chelsea
supporters. Many chide him if he ever misplaces
a pass and wonders what he adds to the team.
Perhaps this is a hangover from his early, ill-
disciplined days, where he would lunge in rashly
for tackles and pick up red cards.
The transfer itself was controversial; he had
signed for Manchester United from Lyn Oslo, but
Chelsea had agreed a deal with his agent.
A press conference where Mikel sported a Red
Devils' shirt only clouded the matter and after
lengthy legal wrangles, Chelsea eventually
emerged with their prize - at a cost of £4million
to Lyn and £12m to United.
Subsequently, Lyn director Morgan Andersen was
convicted of fraud and Chelsea issued a High
Court Claim against him and the club, to try and
recoup the money.
The matter was settled out of court,
confidentially, but it likely means that Chelsea
paid less than £16m for the defensive midfielder
- a pittance given his service over the years.
It did not appear that way at first though;
despite Mourinho putting his faith in Mikel,
playing him 42 times in his debut season in
England, the player's attitude was not quite
right.
He was late to training a handful of times and on
the pitch some of his decision making left plenty
to be desired.
Mikel was booked nine times and sent off twice
in 2006-07, and had two reds the following
season with eight bookings (39 games). He
hasn't been red carded since, and now averages
seven yellow cards a season.
As his discipline improves, his awareness of the
game and his surroundings increases as well. Or
perhaps it's the other way around.
Mikel is composed - he can receive the ball
under pressure from several opposition players,
drawing them in, before sliding it along to a
team-mate in a better position.
This draws criticism that he can only pass
sideways or backwards, but if Chelsea are trying
to keep possession those balls are crucial.
He is a player that Chelsea's defence can trust
to come deep and sit in amongst them if needed,
someone who never hides and will always make
himself available for a pass.
You notice when Mikel does make a mistake or
misplace a pass, because it's so rare for him to
do so.
Mikel is the best screen in front of the defence
that Chelsea have - and is one of the best in the
world at this role.
Ramires makes plenty of tackles but when he's
left as the most defensive player in the Blues'
midfield, they can look exposed.
Following in the master's - Makelele - footsteps
was always going to be difficult but some
Chelsea supporters may not appreciate what
Mikel offers until it is gone.
As you will know, in his youth, Mikel used to be
an attacking midfielder. Mourinho saw the
potential for him to play as an anchorman and
deployed him there from the start.
It does lead people to wonder why he hasn't
contributed more goals and assists, but given
his role in the side it's safety first for Mikel.
However, given his aerial prowess, he should
have scored more goals from set piece
situations, like the one against Derby County,
rising to nod home Willian's free kick.
Andersen had stated, during the transfer debacle:
'Alex Ferguson said to me that Mikel would be
the new Roy Keane and he was offered a
contract that was even better than the one they
gave Cristiano Ronaldo when he came to the
club.'
Perhaps a weakness is his speed; Mikel is not
the quickest, and, infrequently, still throws
himself into tackles which he might not be able
to win.
Mikel is also a big game player. His finest
performance to date for the club came in the
Champions League final, against Bayern Munich,
the greatest night in Chelsea's history.
He was arguably man of the match on that day,
although Didier Drogba's brilliant equaliser and
cup-winning penalty kick overshadowed him on
that day.
That's often the story for Mikel. A quiet, under-
appreciated but crucial part of a trophy-winning
side.
John Obi Mikel's Chelsea goal collection
1. Chelsea v Macclesfield (Jan 6 2007, FA Cup)
A quite superb volley from the edge of the box,
rifled into the top corner.
2. Chelsea v Nottingham Forest (Jan 28 2007,
FA Cup)
An ugly tap-in after a deflected Frank Lampard
corner.
3. Chelsea v Fulham (Sep 21 2013, Premier
League)
Hooked in strike from close range to break six
year plus goal drought. Cue pandemonium
4. Derby v Chelsea
A flicked header from Willian's free kick
John Obi Mikel's trophy cabinet
Premier League (2009-10)
FA Cup x 4 (2007, 09, 10, 12)
League Cup (2007)
Champions League (2012)
Europa League (2013)

I love him to a fault.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNx141YZWQQ&sns=em

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDSiZGqlnA0&sns=em