Former Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi Reveals What Playing Under Jose Mourinho Looks Like

Former Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi Reveals What Playing Under Jose Mourinho Looks Like

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:15 PM
  • Mikel Obi, who joined Chelsea in 2006 during the reign of Jose Mourinho, says playing under the Portuguese tactician got him scared
  • The former Nigerian international, who spent 11 glorious with the London club, won several titles with the Blues
  • Mikel also narrated how the ‘Special One’ lambasted Mohamed Salah for having a bad game at the club

Retired Nigerian international Mikel John Obi has disclosed that he was scared playing under Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho.

The former Super Eagles captain, who retired from professional football in September, was part of the Chelsea squad that won several major titles between 2006 and 2017.

Obi spent 11 seasons with the Stamford Bridge outfit; he won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one EFL Cup, one Community Shield, one UEFA Champions League and one Europa League title.

Mikel Obi, Super Eagles, Chelsea, Jose Mourinho
Mikel Obi admits that he was scared playing under Jose Mourinho. Photo: AMA.
Source: Getty Images

The former Stoke City midfielder has now recounted how Mourinho tore Mohamed Salah into shreds during a match in which the Egyptian was anonymous.

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Obi said, as cited by Punch:

“I was definitely scared of him. I mean, this guy, the things he did to players, but it’s just a way of him passing his message across, trying to get the best out of the players."

Obi added that Salah was once having a bad game and was in tears in the dressing room at the second half, when Mourinho came in and 'massively ripped into' the Egyptian star.

“Salah was in tears. And then what happened? Mourinho didn’t let him back onto the pitch for the second half. He took him off. He ripped into him and then got him off.”

Mikel says he’s not done with sports

Meanwhile, Sports Brief earlier reported that Obi announced his retirement in September, stating he is very satisfied with what he achieved during the course of his remarkable career.

He noted that 'good things must come to an end', but added that he still wants to be involved in sports in some capacity.

In a recent interview, the 35-year-old admitted that quitting professional football was a tough decision. However, he added that he is not done with sports.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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