Posted by Samuel on Sat 10th Aug, 2024 - tori.ng
Obi Mikel spoke during a recent visit to Cobham Arena, Chelsea’s training ground, as part of The Obi One Podcast.
Mikel Obi, a former Chelsea midfielder, has spoken up about the ‘severe punishment’ he received after arriving late for the Blues’ Champions League clash with Barcelona early in his career at Stamford Bridge.
Obi Mikel spoke during a recent visit to Cobham Arena, Chelsea’s training ground, as part of The Obi One Podcast.
The former Super Eagles captain said he didn’t play a single game for Chelsea for three months due to his action.
“I was also late when I first joined the club. I think it was a game against Barcelona in the Champions League,” Obi Mikel recounted.
“The night before the game, we were training at Stamford Bridge. So I was at home chilling. It wasn’t like I was sleeping; I just didn’t get the timing right.
“The consequences were swift and harsh. Guess what happened when I arrived? The players didn’t say a word to me. For two to three months, I was out of the team.
“For about two months, I didn’t play a single game. The punishment then was severe. I was never late again.”
Obi Mikel featured in 372 games for Chelsea across all competitions during his time at the club, scoring six goals.