‘Chelsea’s DNA gone’: Palmer ‘lost’, players want out & zero direction | What now? 🫣

20:38He won the European Cup in 2021, five years ago, John.

20:42John Obi Mikel:Yeah. And now, Chelsea are ninth right now. Nottingham Forest are only 6.9. Six points behind us. I mean, Nottingham Forest, a few weeks ago, they were fighting in relegation. And now, we look like we are going to be dragged into, I know, okay, we're safe. Yeah. Yeah. But you don't want to see us finish 13th, 14th. That's not where we belong. That's not where we belong. These players, they need to talk to themselves. They need to have meetings like we used to. When things are not going well, the top players, JT used to call meetings even before their manager called a meeting. He calls every player.

21:20We have a meeting. Calling you out? No, yes. But we need to find a way of getting back to winning ways. because that's what the fans demand from us. That's what we demand from ourselves, winning. Even before anybody demanded something from, you have to demand that you are playing for Chelsea Football Club. You demand what it takes to play for this football club is winning. Keeping the mentality going, keeping the DNA going, the culture of the football club. Even before there was a meeting from the manager, JT, the top players, Frank, DJ Drogba, they have already called a meeting and we have a meeting.

22:00We talk to each other. You have to wake up. You have to train better. No sulking and walking around and thinking, why am I not playing? No, cut that bullshit. Get back to basic. Train properly. Apply yourself properly around the place, around the training ground. Respect your teammates. If you're playing or you're not playing. Respect the badge. Fight for the football club. Fight for the fans because that's the bare minimum you can do for this football club and the rest take care of itself if you apply yourself well if you train properly if you respect your teammate when you're playing or you're not playing support the club support the players yes the rest takes care of himself but you have to apply yourself you have to professional you have to look yourself in the mirror and say am i doing enough and right now i don't see anybody in this football club right now that is doing that.

22:48Yes, they can all look after the game. They go stand in front of the fans and look like they care. They look like they don't care. When you have to care, it's during the game. Yeah, do your job. Get into tackle. Do your job. Fight for the football club. Fight for the badge. The bare minimum you can do is run and tackle. Do that. Do your job. Everybody should have their job in the team. I did my job in the team. Michael Leeson did his job at the team. We left Frank Rampard bumping, going there, arrived left in the box, score goals. Michael Balak go forward, score goals. Just during what we played, the number six position was different.

23:32We sat deep. We sat deep there. But right now, the position has changed. Yeah. We knew our job at the football club. We played as a team and we succeeded. Everybody had this role to play. And that's when you talk about a team, when you talk about a culture, everybody knew his role and everybody played it perfectly. And that's why we were so successful. In any walk of life, in any industry, you have bad days. You know, you would have had bad days. Of course I have. Lamps, JT, everyone. I want to ask this. You look yourself in the mirror, you're the harshest critic for yourself. Every player I'm told is like that.

24:07The manager, if he feels needed, will hammer you for a mistake or a poor performance. did any of the players, John, if you had a bad game in this run that Chelsea are on right now, there are one or two players that have dipped below the standards. Were you called out by teammates or does that just not happen? Would JT say, John, word, in here now? Yeah. And hammer you? Yes, of course. Yes, of course. He did. A few times. Constructively. A few times, constructively. Yes, constructively. Yeah, he pulls you in. A few times, he's pulled a few players in and have a word with them. Yes. A couple of times he had a word with me.

24:40Privately. Yes, he did. And said, John, Yes. Oh, good enough. Because the managers gave him the permission to do that. Because the club wants to succeed. Who's doing that right now with each other? Nobody. Who's going to do that right now? Who is going to drive in Enzo Fernandez and say, come in, in here. Let's have a word with you. No one. Who's going to drive in Mois Kayser right now and say, in here, let's have a word. No one. Cole Palmer, no one. Cole Palmer, no one. Tossin or whatever, Tossin. Yeah. What? I mean, we talk about center backs. Tossin. I mean, I don't want to be calling out names, but the centre-backs, when I look at our team.

25:18Chaloba as well. Chaloba, I mean, I've said Chaloba, yes, there is something there, but not a starter. Not a starter for this overclub. Maybe, like, a squad player. But we need top, top centre-backs. That's what we need with quality, that can play out from the back, that knows how to defend, that knows how to win games. That can put their body on the line. Play out from the back. Be comfortable with the ball on his feet. We don't have that. The only positive sign is that Levi Cogwell came back from injury. Show the way you can see the way he played. You can see there's something there. He's quality.

25:59He's quality. He has the potential to become a top, top center back. He needs another top center back next season to partner him. That's what he needs. Yes, of course. those times, we've had those times whereby, you know, JT had a word with top top players. It doesn't matter who you are. He had a word with you. Privately, he did. With Frank, with Didier. When he sometimes, if he thinks they're not going well, he, yes, the top four, five top top players, they did have meetings with each other. And then they called the rest of the group and said, let's have a word. We're not performing well. We are not representing the football club right now at this point in time, we have to get back to who we are.

26:39We have to get back to doing the basic. We have to get back to being proud to represent this football club, Chelsea football club, because the fans demand that from us. The owner demand that from us. We have to get back to who we are, winning. It doesn't matter if you're playing or you're not playing. Respect the badge. Respect the football club. Do your job. Look at yourself in the mirror. The best criticism you can ever have as a player is when you look at yourself in the mirror, go home after the game, look at yourself in the mirror and say, have I done enough today? Am I doing enough? Yes, you can have maybe bad game.

27:18It happens to everybody. Yeah. But not consecutively. Not for months. Look at yourself in the mirror and say, am I doing enough? Am I representing this football club well enough? Do that. The harshest criticism you can beat yourself is you criticizing yourself. You cannot develop as a player. You cannot succeed as a player. All walks of life, if you don't criticize yourself. Self-criticism. You have to. Whatever you do, especially as a football player, you have to be harsh on yourself. You have to criticize yourself. Before anyone criticizes you, you have to be the one to criticize yourself. You have to be the one to look at yourself and say, am I doing enough?

28:00And right now at this club, nobody is doing that. I feel like nobody is doing that. From top to bottom, from the owners to the sporting directors to the players, nobody is doing that enough. When I look at the team on TV when I watch it, on the bench, there is no fighting spirit. Even the players, the people sitting behind, it just looks... It looks... Passive. Passive. Passive. There is this acceptance of who we've become. who we've become. This acceptancy. I watched the game. We lost the game. There was no one that looked angry on the pitch. The staff. Pissed off, yeah. The technical crew. Nobody's standing and shouting.

28:51Let's go. You would rather that, instead of everyone's shoulders slumped and quiet and miserable and looking as if they want out, a couple of arguments among the players just to show that there is a bit of mongrel in them.

29:05John Obi Mikel:Yeah, honestly, no one is doing that. When managers used to jump off the seat and scream at the plane and call you and say, fucking do your job. We should get that from Mourinho and all these managers, top managers. Calvin Gelotti, that never gets upset. Well, when he does, he gets on you. He does. When he raises the eyebrow, you know, you have to do your job. But no one calls. I know now social media, this world, it's like, oh, yeah, young players, you have to put your arm around them because this generation, you have to be so, so kind, so, so gentle with them. Please. Not when they're not performing.

29:46Not when they're not performing. Not when they're not doing their job. You can't continue to say, yes, put your arm around them. Yes, this generation, you have to be so gentle with them. You have to. No. No. Yes, you can do that. But also, you have to let them know that they are doing the best job ever. To be a football player, it's one of the best jobs you can ever have. Going into training every day with your mates, with your teammates, with people that you love, that you're friends. You're getting paid well enough. You're enjoying the training ground. Fantastic training ground. Your food's prepped.

30:23Your food is prepped. Fantastic chef, Michelin chef, five-star. you get your food, you get your lunch, you get your breakfast. Where else can you get that kind of job? Every week you get paid hundreds of thousands of pounds. You can't complain. Yeah, when you say it like that. The least you can do, apply yourself properly. Do your job. Can I ask you this, John? You joined the football club at 18?

30:49John Obi Mikel:Yeah. Imagine you joining this club now. Because you've often said on this pod, and I always lean in on it because it always is great insight that it took you a number of years to be truly welcomed. They're testing you daily. Yep. What is this kid made of? This is the standards we set. The manager played games with you. JT, Frank, they're testing you on a daily basis. Daily basis. And then boom, you're into the trust. Daily basis. You are one of us. We know now, week in, week out, it's a seven out of 10. Whatever you're producing, minimum. Minimum. Minimum. You've just, yeah. Can you imagine walking into this now, John.

31:27You at 18 walking into this. Because I'm trying to be nice to these players. Because, listen, I'm going to get pelters for this. I know they've got to take responsibility. They have to. But it's a madhouse. They have to, Chris. In any job you do, you have to take responsibility. Fair. You can't be let off and say you can't take responsibility. You have to take responsibility. And that's what happened to me. Again, you've mentioned it when I joined the football club at 18. You still took responsibility. I took responsibility. A couple of times I was late during my early days. Bang. Oh! I've said it.

32:01Mourinho sent me to the reserve team for a month. I was out of the team until I had to get my shit together. And then break it. Until I have to understand where I am, which football club I'm representing right now. The club that I represent right now, the coach of the football club. He put me in my place straight away. The original this, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, he's a young kid, let's give him time, let's massage him, let's just, you know, massage him onto... No, because I was already in the dressing room that wants to win. A dressing room that was built of winning. A dressing room that was built to win games, winning titles.

32:35And I think that's what I mean, John. I feel for these young players in some ways because they're walking in and there isn't that. There isn't that responsibility. There isn't that thing where you can. That's what I just mentioned earlier on. You need a voice, somebody who's been there, who knows the football club, Who is the football club that can be able to tell these young players what the club means and what the club stands for and what the fans demand from you and what we've built a machine that wins titles. If you're not here to win, you're in the wrong place. You have to leave. Who would you turn to?

33:09Because another thing that you've said a lot on this podcast is if we look at the club top to bottom, I just, if I'm thinking, right, I'm a player of that football club. And certainly I'm looking at the faces that are well known to us. the two sporting directors, Sam Jules in there, there's Joe Shield. When you were at the club, were there people that had been there a long time that if you were having, I don't know, some trouble, John, you could turn to, away from JT and the manager, you could turn to and say, listen, I need a hand. I'm struggling with, I don't know, it could be building work at home, whatever's taking away from your performances on a Saturday.

33:42Were there people at the club you could turn to?

33:44John Obi Mikel:Of course. Of course there were people you can talk to back then. I don't know if they're still there at the football club. I think from what I know, I think a lot of them have left the football club. So again, it's this thing of Blueco not wanting everybody, part of the people who represented the football club before and who's helped build the football club to what it is today. They don't want those people still involved with the football, which is wrong, which is the wrong thing to do because you need to continue that success. You need part of those people who know, who knew what it took to build this football club to what it's become today.

34:18You need those people to still be at the football club, to continue the success, the culture of the football club. So we don't have that anymore. And you've just talked about it. You've touched on it there. With acceptance, when I was finally, it took them years, those top top players, to finally accept me as one of them. It took them years. Every day you were tested. Every day in training, in games, proving yourself. Every day you have to prove yourself. In and around the dressing room, in and around the training ground. You have to prove yourself. You have to let these guys have to accept you.

34:55Not just the JTs, not just the top players, not just the officials, not just the staff. Also, the kit man, the chefs. When you're not accepted, there is a way to treat you. JT gets everything. When you're not accepted by the kit man, the chefs, I promise you, There is a way they treat you. There is a way they look at you. But you know when they've accepted you, it's a different feeling. They treat you well, way, way different. That's when you know, yes, you're in there. I am now part of this football club. I love that. Because you have to earn it. Yeah. You have to earn it. You have to earn it, number one, by winning titles.

35:36By being consistent. By being consistent. By knowing what the football club stands for. by respecting the badge of the football club, loving what you do week in, week out, every day coming into the dressing room, training ground, having a positive behavior. Yeah, that's part of it. You have to. A positive behavior. When you're playing or you're not playing, you have to. You have to be angry at yourself that you're not playing. Yes, as a player, because you want to play. But at the same time, respectful of who's playing, your teammate, the club, the badge, the fans. You have to. Being ready to come off.

36:12You have to. Being ready. Because that's what the managers used to tell us. Mikael, I understand you're not playing right now. Well, you have to train well. You have to apply yourself well. Because you have to be ready. That when you have the opportunity, you come in. And you perform well and you do well. I don't see that happening right now at this football club. It's a shit show what's going on. Honestly. Because I see you declining and declining as a football club. Everybody associated with this football club have to stand up. We have to speak up. To save our football club, we have to speak up.

36:47Because if we don't, the manner in which we're going, we don't want to become that club. Sparks. We don't want to become that club. That's going to take us years and years before we get back to who we are. We don't want to become that club. So we have to do the right thing. Something has to change. Something has to absolutely change. And we are capable of doing that because we're a Chelsea football club. We have one of the best fans in the Premier League in England. And the least that this owners can do is to bring in players that can help this football club, that can win titles for this football club, that are already there, that knows what this football club stands for, and to come in and win titles.

37:30That's what we need. First things first, find a manager. We need a manager. And I know these managers don't grow on trees. but you're looking for a Jose 04, a Klopp kind of 09. When did he come into Liverpool?

37:44John Obi Mikel:Yeah. A little later, 13, 14, 15 perhaps. Years have gone past quick. You're looking for a Pep. You're looking for someone with a force of personality that brings the owners, the sporting directors, the recruitment staff with him. I'm the top dog. I'm downdoing you. I'm passionate. I'm sounding like a Chelsea fan. I'm acting like a Chelsea fan, but I can hear it. It is, it is, because I listen to you too much. But I think anyone watches or listens to this, John, they get it too, that it needs a personality, a character to knit all of this together. Because right now, it's just, it's floating, it's bobbing along in the sea with no direction.

38:30John Obi Mikel:Yeah, no, no, no, no, you're absolutely right. The top, top man is, the one thing we were so lucky with in the past is that the managers that Roman Abramovich brought into the football club, you look at them, count all of them, the top, top managers, top managers. Had a few. A lot of them. Yeah. We had a few dodgy ones. They may not, they may not age. We had a few dodgy ones, but they didn't last long. They were only there for a short while. And it's... They didn't last long. We knew who they were. And we knew they weren't even going to last long. So they were all in there temporarily. But the top, top ones that came in, we knew.

39:08You know, they come in straight away and they demanded that respect.

39:11John Obi Mikel:And they got the respect straight away. You know, Carlo Angelotti, Jose Mourinho, Scolari as well. Yes, he didn't do well at the football club, but, you know. Conte. Conte as well. You know, top, top managers. Top, top managers. You know, Roberto Di Matteo, you know, who won us a double in the Champions League. So we had standard. We had standard. And that's what we need right now. I feel like that's what this team needs. I've said it so many times. With these young players we have, with these potentials that we have, with these quality players that we have, these young players, there is no one discredited the fact that we have some good, young, talented players.

39:49They just need guidance. They just need guidance. They need somebody who can point a direction to them and say, this is what we're doing. This is what we're doing on the pitch. This is what we have to do because things are not going well for us. right now in this game, but stick with me. We'll find a way. We'll figure it out. Stick with me. We will sort it out. And that's what we had back in our days, guiding. Somebody who can guide us during the games, during the tough times.

40:13John Obi Mikel:We had them in abundance. You know, Frank Lampard, Jade, this player, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole, you know, Peter Cech, Claude McAlele. These are top-top players. Ivanovic. These are top-top players with bags and bags of experience. And that's what I don't see right now. So we need a top manager that can come in straight away and demand that respect from these players. And these players, they can look at it and say, you know what? He's been there. He's done it. He knows how to win titles. So straight away, I have to respect exactly what he's telling me because he knows what exactly he's talking about.

40:44And we don't have that. I feel like from top to bottom, we don't have those people. The owners, they don't know what it feels like winning. The spotting directors from Brighton, listen, I'm not here to knock anyone. They did a brilliant job for Brighton. They did a brilliant job for Brighton, but Brighton is not Chelsea. No disrespect to that. No. It's not. Demands expectations. If you want to win titles, you need a sporting director who knows how it feels like to win in titles. You need an owner who knows how to win in titles. You need all that. You need a manager. Especially when you're buying so many young players.

41:20You need this mixture that can guide those young players. And we don't have that. So we have to get back to our DNA. especially that's the thing the DNA of Chelsea football club has to return has to return because we have fans that have been spoiled with winning the fans that we have has been spoiled in the last 15 years sport winning titles competing yeah yeah competing being there being there come the end of the season that we've said we look back at the season say you know we were there or we want something. Not finishing 13, 14. That's not who we are. Or not just being happy qualifying for the Champions League.

42:04That's not who we are. Yes, it's a massive thing to qualify for the Champions League. But not every year, okay, we're happy now we're going to qualify for the Champions League. No, it's about winning. Titles, big titles. And these owners have to realize that they have acquired a football club that has been built. And that's what I keep saying. Yes, they can get angry as much as they want. But if you are acquiring a football club that you know what it stands for before you acquire it, before you bought the football club, you have to continue the success of the football club. Because you know what you get yourself into.

42:41You know what the football club stands for. You know what the fans want. Yeah, the expectations. The expectations of the fans, the players, the community, the people that support the football club. Because they are the most important people in the football club. The fans, the fans own the football club. You have to continue that success, that DNA of winning. That winning mentality has to continue. Because if you fail to do that, those fans will quickly realize what's happening. Of course. And turn on you. Yeah, that's what's happening. And that's what's happening right now. The fans are slowly but surely realizing that the objectives of these owners, and they're quickly realizing and turning on them.

43:24So they have to understand that these fans have been spoiled. They know who they support. They know who they are. And we know who we are as a football club. They have to keep that DNA, that culture. They can get upset as much as they want. And I will keep saying it. Chris, the club can get angry with me as much as they want, which I know they do. But I'm only saying it from a good place. You're disguised now getting into Stamford Bridge, aren't you? I'm only coming from a good place. Of course. Because you care. Because I care for the football club. I was there. What is it? No one's bigger than the club?

44:07Nobody's bigger than the football club. I gave my all for the football club for 11 years. I sacrificed.

44:15John Obi Mikel:I missed my birthdays. I missed important people's in my life birthdays. I sacrifice for the football club. I give my all. We won titles. We're successful. I'm coming from a good place. The players, the sporting directors, the owners, they can get upset as much as they want. But I'm coming from a good place. I want to see this continue to be successful. If I keep my mouth shut, it means that I'm happy what's going on. I am not. And I'm sure some of my other colleagues are not. Of course. But I'm speaking up here that we have to get back to who we are. We have to maintain that. I'm not saying win today, win every season.

45:04But show me. Show some sense of direction that we're moving forward. That we're moving forward. That we are pointing in the right direction. That we want to continue to be successful. The man who built the football club, I keep coming back to that. I keep banging on that. Because I saw and I knew what the football club meant to him. I saw. He was a very busy man, but he was constantly there. He was constantly present. He cared for the football club. When things are not going well, he was there. He spoke to the staff. He spoke to the players. He spoke to the kitner. He spoke to the chef. To the chefs.

45:48to the people who are, the peach guy who take care of the peach. He was always having a chat with everybody. How do we improve? How do we get better as a club? Always. And that's one thing I love about him. That's one thing I absolutely love about him. It's not just him pumping his money, his hard-hardened money, the cash that he had. It's not just about that. He cared for the football club and he brought in people who can improve it. He know he couldn't do it all by himself. That's why he had Marina Granovskaia there. He had Michael Minala, who came in as well, who knew the football club. He wanted the football club to be successful.

46:32And that's what I want to see continue. So as much as they get upset with me, it's fine. As long as I'm week in, week out, speaking about how do we improve, How do we get better as a football club? Not to take us 10, 15 years to start winning the Premier League again, because no. Because the fans demand that we start winning again. So I hope that we, I hope we get back to that. And I want to see us get back to that as quickly as possible. Short term, there may be more pain before the summer arrives. And then let's see where Chelsea take this. Question for you, John. Who do you think is more pissed off with you?

47:12Chelsea's owners or Arsenal's fans there's a question listen let's get to it title race is now I'll say it John it's advantage Arsenal Everton 3 City 3 I said on the pod last week I had a feeling John I had a feeling under the lights on a Monday night City would blink they did so I'm not going to say I told you so I bloody well told you so it was your fault you're blaming me today I love that I'm blaming the fact that Rodri wasn't there City it was a 13 minutes of madness they concede a poor mistake from Gay set piece then they lose their way great goal from Haaland to bring them back and then Doku rescues a point it could well be a big point but undoubtedly Arsenal smiling last night they're in the box

47:58John Obi Mikel:advantage Arsenal they will be watching that game last night and just licking their lips and thinking wow wow it's there to lose now isn't it it is it's there to lose again advantage back to Arsenal. But again, we've said it so many times, this title race is just going to keep changing every week, week, week out. You think so? Still now, you think? I still believe there's going to be points dropped. I still believe there's going to be points dropped whether it's City or whether it's Arsenal. I still believe that. There's going to be points dropped. Obviously, City have Brentford at home. And if they don't win that game, that's it.

48:34John Obi Mikel:Title done. If they fail to win against Brentford at home, that's it. the title is over. Yeah, they play Saturday and then Arsenal go to West Ham on Sunday. Yeah, if City fail to beat Brentford, that's the title over. But, yes, advantage back to Arsenal. And I must say, though, listen, for a very long time, I've said it so many times, a lot of people said it, the Arsenal fans know, that is the best they've played in a very, very long time. Yeah, Fulham not great. But Fulham, make no mistake about it. They weren't great. Fulham were awful. Fulham were awful. But again, sometimes, it depends on the opponent.

49:14John Obi Mikel:Opponent can make you look bad. Maybe the way Arsenal set up, the way the structure in which they approach the game, they made Fulham look ordinary. They make Fulham look that bad. And they did. Early goal. Because of the way they played. Early goal, again, they played some really, really good football. And that's something we haven't seen from this Arsenal team for a very, very long time. I know, yes, their team, their fans, they can say whatever they want. They can, you know, come on my DM and say so many things. It doesn't matter. But they know that this is the best they've played in a very, very long time because they were up for it.

49:48The tempo was there. The aggressivity, the way they approached the game was really, really good. The setup was good. You know, they played some really, really good stuff. They played really, really well. And this is the best I've seen them play in a long time. But again, Fulham were really, really poor. But you have to play what's in front of you. And you have to beat what's in front of you. And they've done that. They've done that. And they've put pressure back on City. And that's what we said. Again, the game against Newcastle. When I talked about it here, the game against Newcastle, when they failed, absolutely failed to put pressure.

50:20Yes, they did win the game. But they failed to put pressure on Manchester City in terms of goals. They went up 1-0 early against Newcastle. And then they sat back. And they defended 1-0. But this game, no. They went for it. They went 1-0 up. They went 2-0 up. They went 3-0 up. Comfortable. Be comfortable because they know from what we talked about last week. It's like they're watching Arsenal. It's like they know this might be the title that comes down to goal difference. Right now, there are what? Two, three goals? So there are now four ahead. But is City Concedent more? Whatever it is, it might come down to goal difference.

51:02It might. You never know. So whenever you have the opportunity to go 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, you have to do it. And Arsenal absolutely did that over the weekend. Good pressure back on City. And they did that. They absolutely played well. And in a very long time as well, we haven't seen Saka play the way he did. He's been injured, but he was good. He was back. He's pivotal to what Arsenal do. You're not wrong. Pivotal to what they do. He is a star player. He's a star man. He's the X-Factor. He's the X factor. He is the missing... He is the guy that makes everything happen for this Arsenal team. When he plays well, and when I watched him, the game against Fulham, he was up for it.

51:46Shackles were off. Exciting to watch. He created chances. He scored goal. He was up for it. He is that guy that makes things happen for this Arsenal side. Why do you let him... Why don't you let him play like that, week in, week out? Give him the freedom to express himself. Don't hold him back, like Miguel Ateta. Give him the freedom to go out there. Give him the ball. It could be the difference now in the next few weeks. Give him the ball to go out there and perform the way he did because he's that guy. If Arsenal are to win this title, he's that guy that will create chances. He's that guy that will score goals for them.

52:18He's their X factor. And you know, the other thing is a bit... So you have to let him play freely. 100%. Shackles were off. And that's the best I've seen him play in a very, very long time. Saka, I know he's had some criticism over the past few weeks, but that's how you respond to criticism. Not sulk. Not come out to defend yourself. Show it on the pitch. Go back to the drawing board. What is that thing that makes me perform well? Who is Saka that everybody loves? It's me creating chances. It's him creating chances. It's him playing with freedom. Being the X factor for this team. And that's what he did over the weekend.

52:56And it's good to see him play that way, obviously. I mean, Chelsea fan, I don't want to see. I know what you mean. You know what I mean? But in a very long time, it's been the best that I've seen him play. And it's been the best that I've seen this Arsenal side play. Yes, advantage back to Arsenal, but they have a massive game tomorrow.

53:14John Obi Mikel:Tonight. Tonight. Atletico Madrid. Atletico Madrid. So, listen, I still feel there's going to be a twist and turn in this title race. City are not going to go away. But it's a massive, massive two points drop by Manchester City. I thought first half they played well. but the second half they just it's not something but again City have been vulnerable as well during second half I have noticed that in the past but when you do not have your main guy yeah come back to him the final piece of the jigsaw the man that connects everything Silva looked lost without him Bernard Silva looked lost without him and I've said it so many times everybody's saying oh yeah one person can make a team Rodri is the connection between this Manchester City team.

54:06There is no question about it. You can argue with me as much as you want. More important than Haaland. More important than Haaland. I'm telling you. And we all know that. Pep Guardiola knows that. You can watch the game against Burnley that he wasn't there. The struggle. Southampton, yes, they didn't want. Struggle. Game again yesterday. Struggle. When Rodri plays for this team, it's a totally different team. He's the connector between everything from the defense, midfield, attack. He is that guy. He is that missing piece that they don't have right now. And I said this so many times. If City had to go on to winning this title, Rodri has to be on the pitch.

54:43He has to be fit. He has to be fit and playing. And we can see that. Without him, they look lost. Bernardo Ciddo absolutely looks lost. He's that guy. He's well assured. When he's on that pitch, he's well assured. He knows how to control the tempo of the game. He knows how to manage the game. And that's something I didn't see yesterday. When they were not running up, they didn't have that guy that knows how to control the game, that knows how to manage the tempo of the game, that knows when to increase the tempo and when to decrease the tempo. Rodri is that guy. So they've absolutely missed him.

55:14If they are to go on and to have a chance of winning this title, he needs to be back as quickly as possible. They have four games left. Rodri has to come back. If Manchester City need... to still be in this title race come, the last game of the season, Rodri has to be back in this sport. We've got a little wager brought to you by Bedwinter, by the way. Steak dinner on the loser to this. I said Arsenal many moons ago, you stuck with City. Look down that camera. Come on, John, look down that camera. Who wins it from here?

55:48John Obi Mikel:Wow. Honestly, I still think this is going to be a twist and turn. You hate this, don't you? Arsenal do have a massive game away to West Ham. West Ham are still not safe. Obviously, with Tottenham winning, West Ham are back in it again. They're back in a relegation battle. So it's huge. For both. Most importantly, for West Ham. They have to win that game. They have to get something out of it. So it's massive for West Ham. And that's why I've said, they're still going to be twist and turn. man. Do I think Arsenal are going to draw points on Sunday? Is it Sunday, right? They play. Maybe. If City failed to beat Brentford on Saturday, that's it.

56:34It's done. It's done. So who do I think right now is in the best chance of winning the title? Of course, it's advantage Arsenal. So we've said this so many times from the start of the season. Anyways, I said City. But when I look at the squad that they both have, I've always said Arsenal can still finish as champions but the history of the club as I always come back to you can't deny that because it's happened so many times over the past years but do I believe that this is their time? Yes, I do believe this is Arsenal's season because a lot of things have gone their way they've been very lucky when you think City are going to go on and dominate you know, again, drop point.

57:22So, for me, I'll go, it's a tough one. It's a tough one. I still believe both sides can still go on and win it. Okay. And this weekend is crucial. Absolutely crucial. This weekend, we will know. Absolutely know. If City win against Brentford and Arsenal beat West Ham, I think it's Arsenal's win. Okay. and then May 25th, if Arsenal do win it, you're turning off DMs. You're turning off comments. No, no. Listen, shake hands and move on. Congratulations. Arsenal say, you know, you are the better team. It doesn't matter how you played. You're in for a tough summer. It doesn't matter how you played.

58:03You've won the title. Yeah, fair. Fair play to you. Yeah, fair. But you're in for a tough summer. You know that. I'm in for a tough summer. Tough summer. But listen, the Arsenal fan can come at me as much as they want. But as a Chelsea fan, we are never happy to see Arsenal win the title. Then you're not a Chelsea fan. It's like Liverpool winning for me. It's like an Arsenal fan cheering for Chelsea. It doesn't happen. No. It doesn't happen. That is the rivalry that we have. So they can hate me as much as they want. It's just the history of both teams. It's like me saying Spurs should go on and win the title.

58:41No. No, it's never going to happen. Same as Arsenal. No. Never going to happen. It's like Liverpool cheering for Manchester United to win. No, it doesn't happen. So they can criticize me as much as they want and hate me as much as they want. But the truth about it is that a Chelsea fan will never cheer for an Arsenal team to go on and win the title. So I will never do that. I will never do that. But at the end of the season, if they go on to win the title, shake hands and move on. Yes, it's your time. You want it? Perfect. I've got one question for you because we're getting a lot of DMs on this.

59:13and I don't know if you've got insider knowledge. You probably don't because I don't think this bloke messages you to tell you what he's up to, but I want your opinion on it.

59:22John Obi Mikel:Jose back to Real Madrid. Do you like it? I think it's a big shout out. I think it's a big shout. Do I think he's going to go back to Real Madrid? Listen, Jose is a fantastic manager. I don't think he will ever stop. No. I don't think the hunger will ever stop. He always wants to win. He's a competitor. He loves to win. He loves to be in the top, top club. he loves being in that spotlight. If he goes back to manage, to become the next manager for Madrid, which is something I think he would absolutely love. He would love to be back there. He would love to go start competing again in the biggest stage in terms of competing to winning the Champions League, which is something I think you want to do again.

1:00:02Competing to win La Liga, playing the Champions League, competing to win the Champions League. So is there something there?

1:00:10John Obi Mikel:Maybe, because it's not going away that rumor. So, you know, watch the space because, you know, Jose is, you know, his box office, isn't it? We want him, you know, in the biggest stage. We want him, you know, to be competing again. You know, you want to see Jose in on the quarterfinals of the Champions League, semifinals, finals, because his box office, you know, he's Jose Mourinho. So, if it were to happen, you know, I wish him all the best, but, you know, he's done some fantastic job again with Benfica. Total champions. Yeah. But Benfica two games away from completing the domestic season. Amazing job he's done.

1:00:45John Obi Mikel:Yeah. Unbeaten. Unbeaten. So yeah, some fantastic job. He just didn't win enough games. Nope. Drew a lot of games. Didn't win enough. But with going back to Real Madrid where you have more quality players, no respect to Benfica players, but Real Madrid is a different kettle of fish, you know, the best team in the world. Um, if he goes back there, he will have another chance of, you know, winning the Champions League. So I think you welcome that. I think that's something you welcome. knowing Jose Mourinho, he still wants to compete. He still wants to be there. So if it were to happen, you know, I wish him the best because, you know, it's going to be, it's going to be interesting to seeing him, you know, you know, competing again at the biggest stage.

1:01:23Watch this space, right, taking the Mikel done and dusted. I'm sure we're going to get a lot of comments, a lot of stuff covered on this episode, a lot of sense, at least I think spoken on taking the Mikel powered by Betwinner. And listen, last thing, order of business, we're going to be in Lagos

1:01:40John Obi Mikel:this weekend. We're going to be in Nigeria. Obafemi Martins. Obafemi Martins. Yeah. Obagol, we call him. Obagol. We call him Obagol. Yeah. He's the guy, isn't he? He's the... The biggest thighs after Roberto Carlos. Yeah. Biggest thighs. Quick. Rapid. Rapid. Absolutely rapid. Played, you know, some top, top teams, you know, in Europe. Scored goals. You know, I played with him in national team. Great, great guy. And yeah, it would be amazing to have him on the podcast. So yeah. If you're in Lagos, by any chance, come down and see us. And let's have a chat. You know, if you're an Arsenal fan, come ask the questions and, you know, we'll have all the answers for you.

1:02:19So, yeah. I'm looking forward to it. Extra security for that. John, that will be on your bill. Yes, we are in Lagos this Saturday. Of course, Liverpool, Chelsea. You'll be watching that between the cracks in your fingers. If you are in Lagos, come on down. All the details are on our social medias. But that is it for taking Mikel. I'm sure this will be making number two headlines yet again do keep your comments coming in to us Obi Podcast Obi One Podcast rather across social medias subscribe give us a follow as well till now for now