Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has shed light on the dynamics within the club, revealing that senior players, including John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, and Ashley Cole, influenced former owner Roman Abramovich’s decisions to sack managers at Stamford Bridge.
During an interview on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five show, Mikel shared insights into how senior players engaged in discussions that indirectly influenced managerial changes at Chelsea.
Mikel explained, “The chat happens between the big guys: JT [John Terry], Frank [Lampard], Didier [Drogba] and Petr Cech and a little bit of Ashley [Cole]. It is not like a chat where they go ‘we are going to go at you’…”
He specifically highlighted instances involving Rafa Benitez and Andre Villas Boas, expressing disapproval of their managerial styles. Mikel detailed the impact on team dynamics when players disagreed with the manager’s decisions.
“When that happens and you get bad results, players who have been playing but are no longer playing, start talking and the atmosphere is a little bit down,” Mikel explained. “They stop talking to the manager, not saying ‘good morning’ and just walk past. That is how they get their message across.”
Mikel clarified that these discussions reached Abramovich, who made decisions favoring the players after hearing their perspective.
Mikel Obi, a key figure in Chelsea’s success, retired from professional football after winning several trophies, including the UEFA Champions League, during his time with the club.
Share this:
CLICK HERE TO COMMENT
Leave a Reply