The former Premier League star believes the Blues are on the right track
Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has urged his old club to step up in crucial matches following their narrow 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Despite a strong start to the season under Enzo Maresca, the Blues have struggled in high-stakes games, and Mikel’s message comes as a rallying call to his former teammates to turn things around.
Chelsea’s struggles in high-stakes matches
Chelsea’s performance under Enzo Maresca has generally been positive, but their inability to get results against Premier League elites is becoming a pattern.
Although the Blues have secured eight wins from their 12 matches this season, their struggles against top-six teams remain a concern.
Against Liverpool, the Blues started brightly but were undone by Mohamed Salah’s brilliance and Curtis Jones’ decisive goal.
Despite Nicolas Jackson’s equaliser in the second half, Chelsea couldn’t maintain momentum and fell short once again in a crucial match.
Mikel’s message after Liverpool loss
Following Chelsea’s defeat, Mikel took to social media to share his thoughts and offer encouragement. Posting a picture on his Instagram story, the Super Eagles legend wrote, “Unlucky @ChelseaFC but we have to start winning the big games.”
The loss to Liverpool marked their second defeat against a top-six rival in two matches, highlighting the need for improvement in such encounters against the teams that they plan to compete against for major trophies.
The Blues will need to find a way to overcome their struggles against the league’s top sides if they hope to win the top honours at the end of the season.
Mikel’s message serves as a reminder of the club’s winning mentality during his time, where Chelsea regularly triumphed in high-pressure games.