Have you ever thought why John Obi Mikel,
the perennial squad player of Chelsea is one
of the manager’s most favourite players?

He is apparently one of the most popular
guys on and off the pitch and has a very
good bonding with John Terry, Petr Cech,
Didier Drogba and even with ex-Chelsea
players such as Frank Lampard and Ashley
Cole.
Being in the club since eight years, he has
taken the Premier League norms and
Chelsea’s culture in his stride and has grown
into a loyal servant. Many football critics and
fans across the globe ask, why is he still in
Chelsea and how he makes it before the
final whistle?
The 27-year-old midfielder does nothing
spectacular in the midfield but is still
considered as a very important piece of the
jigsaw by all the managers who have
managed Chelsea in the hire and fire system.
He has most certainly been playing better for
Jose Mourinho than for any other manager.
But there is a key tactical reasoning to why
Mourinho of all men, who wants to make
surgical changes to the Blues and build an
empire, rates Mikel as a very important
player, someone who makes regular cameos
from the bench.
The changes on the pitch with Mikel coming
on
John Obi Mikel usually is put in play during
the last 15 minutes, and he usually replaces
a wide midfielder (Schurrle/Willian) or the
number ten player who is usually Oscar.
Apparently, he doesn’t occupy these
positions on the pitch.
Chelsea has versatile attacking midfielders
capable of playing in any position behind
the striker. Oscar if playing number 10,
easily shifts to the right or left wing, and if
Oscar is the one who comes off for Mikel,
then Cesc simply occupies the empty
number 10 spot. The key change is always
the same- Cesc Fabregas pushing forward,
relieving him of the defensive duties
allowing him more freedom on the pitch
and the permission to play in the void
behind Costa.
Mikel’s coming on is instantly perceived as a
defensive tactic, but is it?
Most fans moan when Mikel comes on in the
match. Even the commentators talk about
Mourinho shutting up shop and playing
defensive in the final minutes of the match.
That used to be true in the older days, or
just say last season, when Mikel used to help
the team hold on to the lead or draw the
match, but now the scenario has changed.
Mikel is a hard tackler when instructed and
is a player who without much technique,
can help keep possession with his short
passing and strength in midfield.
A player like Fabregas needs a regular dose
of passes, when he is in the number 10
position, as the more forward he plays, the
lesser he gets on to the ball. Mikel does the
dirty job of winning possession and passing
it to Fabregas. Also, the Nigerian’s position
play is such that when Matic wins the ball,
he always has Mikel for support when he is
under pressure. He maintains a link between
Matic and Fabregas and vice versa. Mikel
won’t push forward so that Fabregas can
play his natural attacking play and not be
worried about the hole of space left behind
him. Mikel’s lack of forward activity also
means Fabregas has the added
responsibility of offensive duties, which he
prefers to do instead of the defensive job.
Conclusion: Mikel’s play is a beautifully
disguised offensive tactic
Mikel is a player who is helping Mourinho
make the most of his team due to his
reputation in world football. Everyone thinks
of Mikel as a defensive block and someone
who would offer a bare minimum in
offense. The opposition is also forced to
think this way and they bombard and
commit men forward often playing into
Chelsea’s hands as the Blues are a strong
counter-attacking team (eg, Diego Costa’s
goal vs. Arsenal took three passes- Terry to
Mikel, Mikel to Fabregas, Fabregas to Costa
and goal.)
Also, if the opposition takes him as an
offensive tactic, then they can choose to sit
back and take the onslaught from Fabregas
and company. But again, if Chelsea are
leading and Mikel is on the pitch against a
team that doesn’t want to press further, the
game is as good as won. Mikel is thus, a
great offensive tactic in disguise- something
that gives balance and tactical superiority to
Mourinho and Chelsea over their opponents.

hmmm tactitian,is it de same wit killing the game just like mou usually say for mikel?