John Obi Mikel: I Will Play Defensive Midfield For Super Eagles Success
Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has promised to do whatever it takes to ensure that the Super Eagles succeed in the ongoing Russia 2018 World Cup, he has expressed his readiness to play a defensive midfield role just for the success of the team.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are currently rooted to the bottom of their group and must overcome Iceland on Friday to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition in Russia.
The Nigerian side lost their opening match 2-0 to Croatia while debutants Iceland held group favourites Argentina to a pulsating 1-1 draw.
The former Chelsea Mikel, playing in an advanced midfield role, was one of the Super Eagles’ worst performers on Saturday, and this has led to with many fans calling for him to be subsequently dropped or given a withdrawn role.
Even former Nigeria captain and midfield maestro Austin Jay Jay Okocha advised coach Gernot Rohr to either drop Mikel or make him play a defensive midfield role.
When asked about the possibility of playing in a defensive midfield position on Wednesday, Mikel said: “If I have to sacrifice for this team to progress, I will.
“If I have to sacrifice a position, go play wherever, I will do that for this team to win games.”
John Obi Mikel played as a defensive midfielder for most of his successful 11-year stay at Chelsea but has often been used as an attacking midfielder when on duty for the national team.
Mikel’s former coach at Chelsea Jose Mourinho has also advised that the Nigeria captain should be a ‘number 6’, a defensive midfielder. Quoting Mourinho: Mikel a good number 6, bad number 10 for Super Eagles he said.
