Friday 26 December 2014

Mikel backs Mourinho's methods

Published 06/01/2014 | 15:02

John Obi Mikel, pictured, believes in Jose Mourinho's methods
John Obi Mikel, pictured, believes in Jose Mourinho's methods

John Obi Mikel believes Jose Mourinho is beginning to instil a winning mentality into Chelsea's players, who are starting to realise that second is not good enough for the Blues.

Mourinho's men are well placed to win silverware this season and Mikel, signed by Mourinho during the manager's first spell, believes it is imperative his team-mates understand that winning every game matters to Chelsea, after recent seasons where the Blues' focus has slipped in some competitions.

"If you don't play for Chelsea, you don't know what these trophies mean to this club," Mikel said.

"It's not a team where if you come second, third or fourth, it doesn't matter. No.

"Every year you have to win something and this is the pressure.


"Now they're here, they have to feel the pressure and they are feeling it right now. "That's why we just want to keep doing well and now they're starting to understand that we don't want to get beaten.


Chelsea won the 2012 Champions League and 2013 Europa League, but finished 25 and 14 points adrift in the Premier League in the last two seasons and have won the championship once since Mourinho's departure, in 2009/10. Just eight members of that squad remain.



Mourinho's methods have seen Juan Mata, Chelsea's player of the year in each of the past two seasons, marginalised this term, while Kevin De Bruyne has struggled to claim a first-team place.



Mikel warned anyone not prepared to adapt to Mourinho's ways will not play and cited the work ethic of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian of examples of players prepared to do as they are told.

"He always wants us to play in a certain way and give 110 per cent," Mikel added. "If you don't, you're out.

"As a player that's what you want. You don't want to slack.


"You can see by the way we press up the pitch. That is important for the team and we're doing well."


"He's like a manager-player, because he does exactly what you tell him to do in terms of position," Mourinho told Chelsea TV.

"His qualities are not, for sure, scoring goals. Tactically he's very clever. He knows where he has to be, gives great balance to the team.

"He's one of these players normally called 'invisible' players.

"They do the job and many times they don't get the recognition (they deserve)."

Press Association

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