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Mourinho Hails Mikel's Potential
(Goal.com) - Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has hailed the potential of Jon Obi Mikel, the free-spending Premiership champions' lastest addition to their talented squad.
The Blues finally landed the Nigerian at the weekend from Lyn Oslo after a lengthy procedure that saw Manchester United, who originally claimed his signature, awarded some £12m in compensation.
Mourinho described seeing Mikel train with the Blues for the first time as falling in 'love' and believes he can now turn the youngster into the complete player.
Mourinho said: "He's a midfield player, we can teach him to be more complete, to defend better, and to get more intensity in the game.
"He's bright in the way he thinks football, technically he's fantastic, and it's just a point to get the intensity of the English game."
He added: "Everybody was in love, not just me but the players who were amazed at such a young boy coming from nowhere and training with us with such quality.
"You saw him in the African Cup playing like a giant in the middle of players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Yobo, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, at an absolutely unbelievable level. We know the level he can be."
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Comments
yeah, he'll really realize his potential sitting behind ballack, shevchenko, cole, essien, etc, etc, etc... sounds like this kid would be better off learning on the field with another team.
Posted by: rhymes | June 6, 2006 06:32 PM
i think that this new kid could have a great futrue but then again anyone with a natrual tallent could become great. so its not that amazin to me to see a yungster to come into a practice with intensity and become great. this kid reminds me of Freedy Adu in america. this kid was 15 when he came in and look at him now. he had a natrual talent and became great b/c of it.
Posted by: manchester mascot | June 11, 2006 10:13 AM
yeah this kid could be a player with the right coaching and enough pitch time, which he isn't going to get playing for Real Madrid I mean Chelsea. Yes, Chels is the next Madrid buying all these sik plyers while the truly gifted ones who really care about winning and not looking good are sitting on the bench. I should be playing I'd be a good soccer plyer.
Posted by: aninho | June 14, 2006 12:46 PM
this kid will have a better future with another team where he can get more playing time
Posted by: marvel | June 29, 2006 11:27 PM
I hope all these people are now eating their words. Mikel is a first team regular at Chelsea!
Posted by: Chris | January 9, 2008 07:37 AM