Mourinho Hails Mikel’s Professionalism

Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, is likely to become the ‘annointed’ player for greatness at Stamford Bridge following the words of commendation he got from Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, monday. In a frank assessment of his team posted on the club’s website, Chelseafc.com ahead of last night’s clash with Stoke City, the Portuguese gaffer, pointed out Mikel as one of his players who delivers on promise despite not getting starting shirt regularly. Mourinho insisted that why he prefers a compact squad is to create hunger in the players to impress whenever there is a duty call. And he highlighted Mikel’s sterling performance against Newcastle as proof of his regime bearing fruit.
“The first time he (Mikel) played from the start in the Premier League was Newcastle and he was our best player,” Mourinho recalled “How can he be our best player if he didn’t play in three months? Because he was working every day at the top level. Sad, frustrated, not happy? Maybe. But professional – that’s what I expect from the players.
“It’s the concept of helping the team. Everybody has to be ready to sacrifice for the team, to give everything for the team, to think about the team and not to be selfish. This is the way I want a team to be. “The one that comes on in the last five minutes, he’s a crucial player. If he makes a mistake the team loses; if he doesn’t, the team wins. Everybody wins, everybody loses.
“I want a short squad. In a short squad, everybody is important. I need every player. And when I sign a player, I don’t say ‘it’s you plus 10’. I say ‘it’s you plus 21 or 22’. “You have to know the squad is good at Chelsea.
If you’re at a Chelsea as a goalkeeper, you can’t imagine that you’re the only good goalkeeper. It’s the same for the strikers,” stressed Mourinho Meanwhile, former Real Madrid coach has played down speculation that Chelsea may be fancying the chances of winning the quadruple this season. 6
The Blues, who were tied on same 39 points with Manchester City moved three points clear following their 2-0 victory over Stoke City last night