Mikel Obi reveals why Jose Mourinho changed his role to a defensive midfielder at Chealsea

Former Nigerian international John Mikel Obi has lifted the lid on why Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho converted him from an attacking midfielder to a defensive midfielder.

Mikel, now 35, joined the Blues in 2006 as a teenager from Norwegian club Lyn at the time Jose Mourinho was at the helm of affairs at the West London club.

The ex-Super Eagles captain who was more of an attacking-minded player was offered a more defensive role at Chelsea by the 'Special One'.

The former Plateau United player has disclosed that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager offered him the defensive midfield role because of the attacking talents in the Chelsea midfield at the time.

Many fans back home in Nigeria chastised the Portuese Gaffer for wasting the talent of Obi, but the ex-Super Eagles star has defended his former boss explaining that it was a decision he agreed to.

“No, he (Mourinho) didn’t destroy it. From growing up, I was creative, and everything ran through me, from the U17s, U20s, and U23s and everything I play in the national team, everything goes through me until I finished my international career. It was like that from Day 1 till the end, everything went through me."

“When I went to Chelsea, I had to step back a bit because there were so many big players, Michael Ballack, Makelele, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba, Geremi Njitap, so many big-name players, and so I had to step back."

Mikel, who announced his retirement from professional football recently spent 11 years at Chelsea winning the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, and the League Cup.

WDN