John Obi Mikel Urges New Chelsea Owners to Follow Abramovich’s Winning Formula
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John Obi Mikel, the former Chelsea star, has shared his thoughts on the new ownership of the club and what they need to do to succeed.
Mikel, who played for Chelsea for 11 years and won 10 trophies, was speaking to Sky Sports at the FIFA Football Awards in London. He also hosts the Obi One Podcast, where he interviews former teammates and managers like Mourinho and Joe Cole.
Mikel was seen with co-owner Todd Boehly at the event, sparking speculation about Chelsea’s interest in signing Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker, and bringing back Mourinho for a third stint as manager.
Mikel revealed the advice he would give to the new owners, who took over from Roman Abramovich in July 2023. He said, “We’ve given them time now. It’s been half a year. Now it’s time to win. In Chelsea there’s no time. You have to win, that’s our motto.
If you don’t win, Roman gets you out of the door and gets someone else. So I think that should be the new owner’s way of thinking, you have to win. If you don’t win, what’s the point of being at Chelsea?”
Mikel’s words reflect the high standards and expectations that Abramovich set during his 18-year reign at Chelsea, where he invested heavily in the squad and hired and fired managers frequently. Under Abramovich, Chelsea became one of the most successful clubs in England and Europe, winning five Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies and several domestic cups.
Mikel believes that the new owners need to show more urgency and ruthlessness if they want to keep Chelsea at the top level. He said, “They have to be more aggressive and more decisive. They have to back the manager and the players 100%. They have to be ready to make changes if things are not working. They have to learn from Roman. He knew how to win.”
Mikel’s comments may put more pressure on pochettino and the players, who are already under scrutiny from the fans and the media. However, they may also inspire them to prove their worth and deliver the results that the club and the new owners demand.
