Frank Lampard says fellow midfielder John Mikel Obi is underrated by outsiders, but valued by his Chelsea team-mates.

Critics of the Nigeria midfielder point to his uninspiring, simplistic style of football and question his contribution to the Chelsea team, but Lampard says the 25-year-old is given flak unfairly.

"He's a brilliant player. I think he's improved a lot over the last few years. He's at a level now where he's playing some great football," Lampard told KickOffNigeria.com exclusively.

"Maybe the reason people say that is because he's playing a position that is really underrated.

"He's not a player that's going to score you goals in a season but his value to the team is measured by how his team mates talk about him and we all have nothing but high praise for him."

Lampard goes on to explain why Mikel is such an asset for Chelsea.

"He does a lot of work for us in the holding role, keeps the ball moving for us. He's great at tackling, intercepting balls, winning balls, and has great feet."

Mikel arrived at Chelsea as an 18-year-old in 2005 burdened with a £16million price tag and Lampard suggests that this may have played a art in piling up the pressure.

"I think he had a lot of pressure on him as a young player. He came with a big responsibility because of the way we brought him into the club, but I think in the last two or three years he has improved greatly. He's a top top player now."

"He's a brilliant player. I think he's improved a lot over the last few years. He's at a level now where he's playing some great football," Lampard told KickOffNigeria.com exclusively.

"Maybe the reason people say that is because he's playing a position that is really underrated

"He's not a player that's going to score you goals in a season but his value to the team is measured by how his team mates talk about him and we all have nothing but high praise for him."

"He does a lot of work for us in the holding role, keeps the ball moving for us.

He's great at tackling, intercepting balls and winning balls."

FA FA FOUL. . .big lie . Mikel no sabi tackle, intercept & win balls and break down opposing attacks. He's always running after opposing players when they've passed him. He's only good at collecting the ball from the back four, holding on to it & keeping possession and making short passes.

All in all, Lampard is just being a good team mate.

semid4lyfe:

YES. . .he played some great footie towards the latter stages of last season but I'll never use the word brilliant to qualify Mikel as a player. BRILLIANT was Makalele (at Chelsea)



Question is, is Mikel the only player playing this "underrated" position in football?





If other players playing exactly his role score goals, why shouldn't he?



VERY TRUE. . .and I couldn't agree more. In fact, it's what he does best.



[i]FA FA FOUL. . .big lie . Mikel no sabi tackle, intercept & win balls and break down opposing attacks. He's always running after opposing players when they've passed him. He's only good at collecting ball from the back four, holding on to it and throwing short passes.

All in all, Lampard is just being a good team mate.

semid4lyfe:

YES. . .he played some great footie towards the latter stages of last season but I'll never use the word brilliant to qualify Mikel as a player. BRILLIANT was Makalele (at Chelsea)



Question is, is Mikel the only player playing this "underrated" position in football?



If other players playing exactly his role score goals, why shouldn't he?



VERY TRUE. . .and I couldn't agree more. In fact, it's what he does best.



[i]FA FA FOUL. . .big lie . Mikel no sabi tackle, intercept & win balls and break down opposing attacks. He's always running after opposing players when they've passed him. He's only good at collecting the ball from the back four, holding on to it & keeping possession and making short passes.

All in all, Lampard is just being a good team mate.

Emylexray: mikel...improve! Enough of your shot fear-driven passes. Michael essien plays in thesame position and he does wonders for chelsea. Is it a crime if you score?..overall, i think mikel needs to step up his game .

aribisala0: Mikel is a good player in the wrong club Man U looks like it would have been a better option for his game.

phreakabit: Yorubas already derailing the thread. . . Stay in the mud filled puddle, I am cool being in the infinity pool, not going to join y'all this time. BTW nice one Frank Lampard. #Kudos!

Ejiné: I think a committee should be set up to help look into why Mikel Obi is underrated by outsiders

shymmex: Chelsea killed his game.

phreakabit:

Read the emboldened and then go take a shower, turn of the lights, ponder about your life for a while and go to bed ashamed. You clearly know little or nothing about football.

phreakabit:

Read the emboldened and then go take a shower, turn of the lights, ponder about your life for a while and go to bed ashamed. You clearly know little or nothing about football.

JideTheBlogger:

Na Muorinho joor

shymmex: Chelsea killed his game.

slex: can we compare how mikel played at the 2005 YWC in Holland and how he plays in Chelsea,for those who remember, which of the 'mikels' do you prefer, the one @YWC or in chelsea?

paveinc: to me i know he is a good player but not a fantastic one and not consistent.he needs to build his confidence and composure,,

ogaemma: The man who played that role b4 Mikel was inspiring, aggressive and a scorer. Then why is Mikel not scoring? Why is he holding unto the ball only? What his fans are saying is Mikel should start steping on the aggressive and scoring shoes of Makalele.