Newly appointed Chelsea manager Antonio Conte set the standard straight during his unveiling to be the kind of manager that demands his players to to work, run and cover every blade of grass on the field.
It's no surprise that he has bought a player who also plays the game the way he perceives it - N'Golo Kante. The pint-sized French international was one of the major reasons Leicester City won the Premier League title last season as he led the league in tackles won with 115. He dominated the midfield area like a beast and destroyed attacking forays of opposing teams with aplomb.
This signing affects our son and the current golden boy of Nigerian football John Mikel Obi. Surely, Mikel can't be said to be first in the pecking order of defensive midfielders for Chelsea now plus he isn't the kind of player that exerts his energy. Even though there are reports that Juventus are interested in signing Nemanja Matic and somehow the deal pulls through, should Mikel continue to play second fiddle?
Most of his playing career in Chelsea has required him playing as a substitute. In Mourinho's first reign, he played substitute to Claudio Makalele, Felipe Scolari preferred Micheal Essien, Rafeal Benitez never hid his displeasure as he went for Oriol Romeu and Mourinho second stint produced Nemanja Matic. He only enjoyed being a mainstay in the starting XI during the short spells of Avram Grant, Roberto Di Matteo and Guis Hiddink.
The Nigerian international has surely paid his dues for Chelsea. He has played for the club for ten years now. Last summer, it was reported that Galatasary of Turkey were interested in his signature. I think this is the time where Mikel should seek elsewhere to ply his trade. He shouldn't continue to sit on the bench collecting the British pounds all in the name of being a team player.
Maybe, he could yet fulfill the aspirations Nigerians had for him after the Holland 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was the midfield general of that team, his displays made all Nigerians believe that he was surely the heir of the No.10 jersey held then by Austin Okocha, only for Jose Mourinho to turn our man into a defensive midfielder.
Well, at the age of 29 years, I will say that it is better late than never. I believe that he can still reproduce that kind of play that made Nigerians compare him with former Barcelona player - Xavi Hernandez. He can begin with the Olympics and after which move to some other club.
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