Chelsea veteran John Obi Mikel recounts his early learning period at the club, highlighting Jose Mourinho's swift intervention, sending him to the academy before readying him for the "big leagues."
In the summer of 2006, a young and inexperienced John Obi Mikel joined Chelsea at the age of 19, with limited senior football experience under his belt. Amidst the transfer drama, Mikel found himself at the heart of a legal dispute between Chelsea and Manchester United, who had initially signed the Nigerian midfielder.
The saga was eventually resolved in favour of Chelsea, who secured Mikel's services for a fee of £16 million. Manchester United received £4 million from Mikel's former club, Lyn Oslo, with the rest of the fee going to the Red Devils.
Mikel's first taste of FA Cup action came in the 2006 final, where he faced his original intended club, Manchester United. In a thrilling encounter, Mikel played a key role in Chelsea's victory, contributing significantly to the team's success.
Didier Drogba scored the winning goal in the final, with Frank Lampard playing a part in the build-up. Mikel, in particular, had an impressive performance against Paul Scholes, cementing his place in the Chelsea squad.
Reflecting on his FA Cup final performance, Mikel recalled it as special. He felt that his performance proved he should not have been let go by Manchester United. Mikel's comments were made in association with streaming platform DAZN.
Mikel's debut for Chelsea came in the same year, but his first Premier League start resulted in a red card due to two yellow cards at Reading. Despite this rocky start, Mikel went on to establish himself as a key player for the London club.
The 2006 FA Cup final was also the first FA Cup final to be held at the new Wembley stadium, making Mikel's contribution even more significant. As he looks back on his career, Mikel's time at Chelsea and his role in the 2006 FA Cup victory remain standout moments.
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