Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr Reveals True Reason Why Conte Isn’t Playing Mikel At Chelsea

John Obi Mikel lack of playing time at English Premier League side Chelsea, according to the coach of the Nigeria senior national team Gernot Rohr is basedon issues outside football.

Mikel is yet to play a competitive game under coach Antonio Conte this season, which happens to he his 11th at Stamford Brige. A record that makes him the second oldest player in the team bar captain John Terry.

Rohr during the Super Eagles media parley was asked about his opinion on the lack of game time, the captain of the Super Eagles is currently enduring and the Franco German coach who recently went to Chelsea to speak with the team’s hierarchy over Mikel’s situation defended his captain.” Mikel was punished by Chelsea for playing at the Olympics for Nigeria. The new coach tried convincing him to stay but he went to defend his nation. I cannot punish him for not playing in his club”[/b]He said.

On his part Mikel voiced out his unhappiness over his lack of playing time but insist it does happen to players, and he is no exception.” [b]It’s not a good one but it does happen to players”.

Franco German coach who recently went to Chelsea to speak with the team’s hierarchy over Mikel’s situation defended his captain.”

eshietIntrepid:
Is good when ur national team coach is the one defending ur lack of playing time in ur club.


Don't worry soon enough conte will need Mikel.

blueto:
..

"But then came the Olympics. Mikel was called to captain Nigeria in Brazil and led his country to bronze. He had Conte’s blessing."

KingEbukaNaija:


That's not true

Here's an article from DailyMail addressing Mikel's ailing career :
And an excerpt from the article :



There were no reports of any dissension that led to falling down the pecking order under Antonio Conte because of Mikel's participation in the Olympics .

The truth is that Mikel's lethargic style of play does not suit Conte's frenetic style of play in his new 3-4-3 system at Chelsea - where ebullient players like Matic , Kante , Alonso , Moses are the reason the system works in Chelsea . Their work rates are high , their tacking is good and they are completely focused through out the game - Mikel lacks these qualities currently .

Mikel can play in a system were play is done sedately , maintaining possession and moderate/low frequency attacks from defensive midfield against the opponents . That's why he flourished under Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink.

Mikel can offer that depth in Chelsea squad , you know in case anyone get's injured . But reports say he might move in January though the stalwart is actually not unsettled as those reports suggested .

If you want to win a team needs this type of player – Kante, Matic and Mikel – that work hard forthe team.” – conte

blueto:


Information like this is undisputable since it is coming from the Super Eagles's technical adviser who went to confirm it at Chelsea himself. Now we see why players feign injuries and lie in order to be omitted from national call ups just to satisfy their managers in order to secure their playing career in the respective clubs.

But the problem in Mikel's case is that the Nigerians that he sacrificed his Chelsea's career for are the ones traducing and lambasting him. Mikel is totally fit for Conte's plans and philosophy, even Conte confessed that Mikel keeps impressing him in trainings.

Until I see Matic and Kante's combination win the Champions league like Mikel did for Chelsea, I will always rate Mikel above then.

blueto:
Have you ever wondered why the Mikel who was praised and ‘needed’ by Conte to ‘win game’ suddenly became unfit for Conte's plan?
http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/conte-chelsea-need-players-like-mikel/ .
Do you think Conte would have openly confronted Mikel and hamper him from leaving for the Olympics? Conte showed signs that he never wanted mikel to leave but mikel was so desperate and therefore shunned Conte's wishes.

“I want to say Kante was a target and for this reason I’m very happy the club bought the player,” Conte told the Chelsea website after the 2-0 pre-season defeat at Rapid Vienna. He’s a good player.

“He has good technique, fantastic stamina and I like this type of player. If you want to win a team needs this type of player – Kante, Matic and Mikel – that work hard for the team.”

KingEbukaNaija:


Its not right to assume . If there was any form of confrontation at all , then Mikel would have shown signs of discontentment especially on social media .

“It is difficult to leave Chelsea at this time,” Mikel told the Evening Standard. “But I explained to the club why I wanted to go and I thank them for their understanding and allowing me to be apart of this.”

But he understands the situation and keeps talking about working hard in training in order to get himself back into the team after he got back from the Olympics . Remember , the season has already kicked off at the time he was playing at the Olympics . You don't expect him to walk into the first team just like that .

Conte is running a meritocratic system - apparently with players like Moses , Alonso earning their place in the team . Willian went on compassionate leave because of the demise of his mum and Pedro took his place and 2 games later Pedro is still playing while Willian is now benched even after his return . Its all about working to earn your place in the first team - and evidently Mikel understands this .

And Conte was referring to Kante's buy by Chelsea for 30 million . He was describing Kante not Mikel . The dubious site added Mikel in between to sell their story .

Excerpt :



"This type of player evidently " talking about Kante , not this type of players .

And Mikel was withdrawn after 58 minutes during Conte's first game which ended in a 2-0 defeat . See ? Why praise a player you withdrew while you were losing and tell him he is needed to win a game whereas you lost It does not add up !

He’s a good player. He has good technique, fantastic stamina and I like this type of player. If you want to win a team needs this type of player –Kante, Matic and Mikel– that work hard for the team.

blueto:


Until I see Matic and Kante's combination win the Champions league like Mikel did for Chelsea, I will always rate Mikel above then.

pat077:
Why is he punishing fabrigas