Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel was singled out for accolades from Chelsea’s new manager, Guus Hiddink after his splendid performance alongside the Spaniard, Cesc Fabregas propelled the champions to a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The 28-year-old midfielder who was mainly utilised under Jose Mourinho as a late substitute once more emerged as the unlikely hero of the Selhurst battle with a disciplined and sturdy defensive display as well as excellent ball exchange with over 95 percent passing accuracy in the game.
Mikel’s performance in the game rated as 8/10 by Sqawka also caught the eye of Hiddink who described the former Lyn Oslo star as “the ideal player” capable of giving stability to Chelsea team as he did in their Barclays Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
“Mikel played very well. He is the ideal player to bring balance to the team. He knows the game very well and how to cope. To watch a player defend so elegantly is a beautiful thing,” said Hiddink.
By Olisemeka Obeche