Photo Courtesy Chelsea Media.
Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has showered praise and credited the club’s former manager, Jose Mourinho for helping build a strong side for the London based team.
The former Super Eagles captain played under the Portuguese boss in two spells in 2007 and his second coming between 2013 and 2015 at the Stamford Bridge.
“It’s always special when you meet Jose [Mourinho]. Jose made me who I am today. Bringing me to the club, sticking with me, giving me my debut and of course trusting me.
“He helped me shape who I am today because he was so tough and so strict with me. Not to other players but with me he was strict, he was tough with me. If I wasn’t doing things right, he always tough with me.
“He was a special one for a reason, you know he wins trophies, that’s what he does, he is so good at winning trophies and when you talk about Chelsea football, you cannot talk about Chelsea football club without talking about Jose Mourinho.
“He helped build this football club to where it is today, not just by winning but the winning mentality that he installed on the players. The likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry, Petr Czech, Michael Essien. When players walk into this football club, they know exactly what to do which is win trophies.
“That is why when I talk about today, I always try to make it clear to the current players. Chelsea Football club is not a football club where you come and oh now I’m playing for Chelsea.
“It’s about winning, you have to win. There is no time to get used to it, ok you have to get used to it but the aim of this football club is about winning.” Mikel Obi said on the Obi Podcast.
Mikel Obi himself spent 11 seasons at the Blues, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, one Community Shield, the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League.
He was a key member of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning squad under late coach, Stephen Keshie and he is capped 91 times, scoring six goals in the process.
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