John Obi Mikel revealed how he and his team prepared for Ronaldo and Messi. His comment went viral

John Obi Mikel had the best period of his professional football career at Chelsea. With that, of course, he had the opportunity to face both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he’s very clear about who was somewhere else than the others!

The Nigerian footballer could be called an expert on Messi. After all, he has played three games against him and in none of them did the Argentine magician make an impact.

All the duels were in the Champions League semi-finals, with Barcelona celebrating promotion in 2009, followed by Chelsea in 2012, who beat Bayern Munich on penalties in the final. This moment was quite possibly the best of Obi Mikel’s career.

He dominated the Premier League twice, but the Champions League only once. Moreover, against both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, their victories could be called very lucky. Both of the aforementioned big clubs were on a different level and it showed on the pitch. However, the meticulous defensive work of coach Roberto Di Matteo celebrated success.

At the same time, Obi Mikel played several times against Ronaldo, who was terrorizing defensive players in the Premier League at the time in a Manchester United jersey. He too was on a different level, however, the Nigerian midfielder is clear when comparing the two players.

Ronaldo or Messi?

On this eternal question, he replied on Show Five as follows. But every time we played Barcelona, my God, the whole week was all about Messi.

All we kept hearing was that we had to have two or three players to take him on. You can’t defend one-on-one against Messi, it’s impossible. The way they played, the way they passed the ball, the only goal was to get the ball to him. I know we all talk about the way he walks on the pitch, but that’s just to find space. As soon as the ball got to him, the movement, everybody started running and moving…”

[FIVE] John Obi Mikel: “When we [Chelsea] played against Man United, we knew Ashley Cole would deal with Cristiano Ronaldo. Against Barcelona, the entire week of training was about trying to stop Lionel Messi by kicking him. There is 0 comparison, Messi is from a different planet. He is that good.”
byu/TheBiasedSportsLover insoccer

For Obi Mikel, Messi is from another planet. This well-known phrase is the perfect description of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, according to the Nigerian midfielder. “The only strategy to take the ball away from him was to kick it, that’s just the way it is,” he concluded.

The now 36-year-old midfielder has played 249 games in the Premier League and has enjoyed only one goal. He scored that one in the 2012/13 season in the Fulham net. But that was not why London kept him for so long.

John Obi Mikel was an excellent defensive back who was an indispensable part of the team for many years before another Blues legend John Terry. Both, in fact, left Stamford Bridge in 2017 after a long and successful era.

Source: Five, Transfermarkt