IT IS one thing for Mikel John Obi to be blanked by Alex Ferguson, as he was at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but quite another to feel the cold shoulder from his own manager at Chelsea.
The Nigeria midfielder learned some hard lessons at the hands of Jose Mourinho, who initially championed him, while under Avram Grant he could not lay claim to being a regular selection. Grant left him on the substitutes' bench for the Champions League final against Manchester United.
But Mikel senses a breakthrough and he insists it has nothing to do with Chelsea's summer sale of Claude Makelele nor Michael Essien's knee injury, which could keep him out for six months. Under Luiz Felipe Scolari Mikel has started when fit. He is thriving on the increased feeling of responsibility and belonging.
"It wasn't because Essien is injured or Makelele has gone, I just felt that this season would probably be my season," said the 21-year-old. "The manager has come in, he's seen me play and he likes the way I play. I knew from the beginning of the season that things like this were going to happen and, hopefully, things are going to keep going like this.
"I don't feel any pressure, especially when you play under a manager like the boss, Scolari. He just asks me to play. You feel more confident when a manager has got belief in you, if he wants you to go out there because he knows you can do it."
Mikel might have lined up against Chelsea for United on Sunday, in the 1-1 draw, if circumstances had played out differently. United thought they had a deal to take him from the Norwegian club Lyn Oslo in April 2005 only for Mikel to claim he had been coerced into signing and was determined to join Chelsea. After a dispute which lasted for more than a year, Chelsea paid €20.2 million in compensation - €15.1 million to United, €5.1 million to Lyon - to take Mikel to Stamford Bridge.
Did Ferguson have anything to say to him when they bumped into one another outside the dressingrooms? "Nothing, actually," said Mikel.
Mikel played a prominent part in Chelsea's comeback, having been released further forward from his anchor role, which tipped his team on to the front foot and it was from his free-kick that the substitute Salomon Kalou headed the equaliser. Scolari had warm praise for him afterwards. "Maybe it turns out that every time against Man United I play well but the game [against them] isn't more special for me because of what happened with my transfer," said Mikel.
"I'm disappointed we didn't get the three points. After they scored, we calmed down and started passing the ball. From then until the end of the game, we played much better than them. We deserved to win. We had chances but we didn't put them away."
Kalou's goal ensured Chelsea maintained their unbeaten run in Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge. It is now 85 games since they tasted defeat and Mikel suggested the conviction given to them by the sequence had galvanised them at the interval. "We haven't lost here for a long time and we went on to the pitch in the second half to make sure we kept that record going."
Chelsea were dealt a blow in the warm-up when Deco injured his adductor muscle and the club expect him to be out for two weeks. Ricardo Carvalho, the central defender, who limped off with damaged knee ligaments, will be out for three to four weeks. .
Guardian Service
