In his recent interview with goal.com, Mikel Obi discloses that he had to configure his game in other to suit the premier league standard since he joined Chelsea in 2006 under Jose Mourinho, who converted him from an offensive midfielder to a holding one prior to Claude Makalele’s departure. Since Roberto Di Matteo taking over at Chelsea with the recent playing formation, he now has the freedom to display his natural talent.
In the early years, the Nigerian player got a raft of red cards for reckless tackles but in the June issue of Chelsea FC magazine, Obi reveals that he has had to grow up quickly. “Growing up, 4-4-2 was the standard for me. Then I came into the team at Chelsea and switched to a holding role. If I'm the only deep midfielder, it means I tend to play with more discipline,” Obi said in the magazine. “I need to be the one to keep the shape of the team, to be the one man holding, and every team needs that.
Now Obi said his role is more flexible as Chelsea have started playing with two defensive midfielders – Frank Lampard and Obi, and this change has given the Nigerian more freedom to explore his creative tendencies. “It depends on what the manager wants you to do and what he gives you permission to do.
I've been here six years and in that time I have had managers who said, "Don't even try it,” Obi continued. “But Robbie [Roberto Di Matteo] has encouraged it, and why not? I try to help the team and I try to show what I can do when I have the ball as well. I try to create and make the team play, to be a little bit more offensive, not only disciplined and defensive.'
On the rash tackles that were the signature of his early career at Chelsea, Obi said he had make adjustments to his reading of the game.
“When you play in the role I play and after the first two years you have got four red cards, you can't keep going like that. You have to sit and think and look at what you're doing wrong and what you're doing right.
“So, I looked at that aspect of my game and I saw that I really needed to watch the tackles that I went into. Sometimes, it's not just about going in for tackles, it's about knowing how to win the ball without having to go in for those challenges, which is something I've learned.
“Now, I tend to be closer to the ball so I can win it much more easily, to pressurize instead of making those silly tackles I used to make when I first came to the club. The boys now have banter with me sometimes, saying, "Remember four years ago when you used to kick us all the time in training," Obi added
Source:=> Goal.com
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