He never got the credit he deserved — Mikel Obi on Chelsea star

Former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has spoken about his former teammate Claude Makelele, saying the Frenchman never received the credit he deserved during his time at the club. According to Mikel, Makelele was integral in every game for Chelsea and without him, the midfield would not have stood a chance.

In an interview with Dubai Eye 103.8 Sport, Mikel stated that despite Makelele’s name and reputation from his time at Real Madrid, he was not receiving the recognition he deserved at Chelsea. Mikel believes that the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and John Terry were taking the front page in newspapers ahead of Makelele.

Makelele played for Chelsea between 2003 and 2008, making 217 appearances for the club. During his time at Chelsea, he won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and two League Cups. He was known for his defensive midfield role, which came to be known as the “Makelele role” due to his outstanding performances in that position.

Mikel acknowledged that Makelele’s playing style was boring, but it was effective. He said, “as long as the team is winning, no problem.”

The Nigerian midfielder played alongside Makelele for three seasons at Chelsea and benefited from the Frenchman’s experience and skills in midfield.

Mikel himself won several titles during his time at Chelsea, including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup, one UEFA Europa League, and one UEFA Champions League.