Description
John Obi Mikel is a Nigerian footballer who plays for English club Chelsea and the Nigeria national team. He started the 2011-12 Premier League season playing in Chelsea's opening fixture against Stoke City, but his father was abducted in Nigeria on 10 August and Mikel was forced to miss the rest of the season. Mikel regained his place in Chelsea's lineup in the new coach Andre Villas-Boas' first game in charge, and played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup final on 5 May 2012. He started all of Chelsea's first five games of the new Premier League season, but lost his place to new signing Oriol Romeu in the team's later games. In the Premier League, Mikel appeared in 22 league fixtures, starting 15 of them, as well as playing in eight fixtures leading up to the team's appearance in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. In the final in Munich on 19 May, Mikel played the full 120 minutes as the sides played out a 1-1 draw. Chelsea played a tough defensive battle and Mikel was hailed by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp as playing an excellent game putting in in a performance that I didn't think he had in him;
John Michael Nchekwube Obinna, commonly known as Mikel John Obi, John Obi Mikel or John Mikel Obi, is a Nigerian footballer, who plays as a midfielder for English club Chelsea and the Nigeria national team.
Chelsea
2011-12 season
Before the start of their league campaign, Mikel's father was abducted in his native Nigeria on 10 August; despite this, Mikel started in the club's opening fixture against Stoke City at the Britannia. Mikel came close to claiming his first Premier League goal for Chelsea in an inspired game as the sides played out a 0-0 draw in new coach Andre Villas-Boas's first game in charge.
Due to Michael Essien's long term knee injury, Mikel found more playing time, but around Christmas time he lost his place to Chelsea's new signing Oriol Romeu. Following a run of disappointing fixtures including a catastrophic 3-1 loss to Napoli in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg and a 1-0 defeat to West Brom, Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. In both of these matches Mikel was an unused substitute for The Blues. Following the appointment of former Chelsea midfielder Roberto di Matteo, Mikel appeared in 16 of the club's last 20 games and started in 14 of them, and began to play some of his best football for the club.
Mikel played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup final on 5 May 2012, picking up a yellow card in the 36th minute. The Premier League campaign saw Mikel appear in 22 league fixtures, starting 15 of them, as well as playing in eight fixtures leading up to the team's appearance in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
In the final in Munich on 19 May, Mikel played the full 120 minutes as the sides played out a 1-1 draw. Chelsea played a tough defensive battle and Mikel was hailed by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp as playing an excellent game putting in in a performance that I didn't think he had in him; he was putting out fires everywhere, as Chelsea claimed a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout. Following his performance Mikel told reporters that it was best night of our lives. Mikel's strong performances in the final stages of the season and his impressive display in Munich helped Chelsea secure Champions League football next season despite finishing in sixth place, knocking London rivals Tottenham Hotspur into the Europa League.
2012-13 season
Mikel started all of Chelsea's first five games of the new Premier League Season, and also played in the Community Shield against Manchester City and Super Cup against Atletico Madrid.
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