‘Get Martinez NOW’! Mikel slams Sanchez, picks Enzo’s replacement & defends Watkins

23:30John Obi Mikel:Everybody keep looking and saying, oh, Sanchez again. Every Chelsea fan look at it every weekend and think, oh, Sanchez on the goal again. Sean Obi again. So the club, for the club to protect him, they're not protecting him right now. To protect him, they have to take him out from the firing line. Get somebody else. Get a top-top goalkeeper. You know, bring in a top-top goalkeeper. If it's Emi Martinez, yes. But we have to get somebody else in that can be assured. A goalkeeper with confidence. A goalkeeper that you can look at every week, week in, week out. And you can have confidence. Turn around and say, yes, we have an assured goalkeeper in our goal.

24:07John Obi Mikel:And I'm confident that if we score two, three goals, we win this game. Clean sheet is so important to every team. To go on and win the titles. Clean sheet is so important. We saw that with Arsenal. They don't concede a lot. They score one or two goals and they fucking defend. David Ryan making those saves. That's what you need from your goalkeeper. To win titles, you need your top, top goalkeeper. To win games, you need your strikers. But to win titles, you need a top, top goalkeeper. And that's what we have over the years. Look at all the top, top teams that have gone on to win the Premier League, that have gone on to defend the Premier League, that has gone on to win the Champions League.

24:48John Obi Mikel:Top, top goalkeepers. And I think that's what we absolutely need. So, Emi Martinez, if, and let's say, September 3rd is when the window closes, they've got a few days to sort this out. Don't tell me that, Chris. The window's not closing until we make a change. We have to. We have to. We have to make a change. Do they make a, and do you like Emi? I like Emi, but what is he, 33 years old now? 33, yeah. Experienced. Experienced, yeah. It's his best years behind him, maybe. When I watch Emi Martinez, I'm a big fan of Emi Martinez. When I watched him last season, he did make few mistakes. Last season, he did make few mistakes.

25:23John Obi Mikel:And I think that's why Unai Emery has looked at it and gone out and got Suzuki. He's a player. He's a top, top goalkeeper. You watch. He is a top goalkeeper, yes. And I think that's what Unai Emery has looked at. Villa has looked at them. Okay, we've gotten the best out of Emi Martinez. I think it's the right time for us to let him go now. So do we go out and get a player that Villa has? said, essentially, we're done with him. We're done with you, you know. Maybe clearly that's something that Unai Amir has seen, the club has seen. Is he going to come in with experience? Is he going to come in and, yes.

25:57John Obi Mikel:Is he the character that we need? Yes. Is he going to bring confidence to the players? Yes. Is he good with his feet? All right. Questionable. It's okay. We need a goalkeeper who's good with his feet. Is he going to be that goalkeeper? Maybe not. Is he going to save us points? Is he going to be assured for us? Yes. Is there another goalkeeper out there that we can go and get? Maybe. We have to go out there and absolutely look at the top goalkeeper, 27, 26, that's going to hit his prime in the next couple of seasons, that is already a top, top goalkeeper. But we still hit his prime. Even more hit his prime.

26:33John Obi Mikel:But a top, top goalkeeper already that is assured. We have to go out there and spend money. Mike Mijan at AC Milan. Whether he's playing for another club, we can go and pay top dollar and get him. Top dollar and get him. Everybody has a price in this football game. So if we go out and spend top dollar on a goalkeeper that we know is playing for his club right now, if we go in and pay 60, 70, 80 million, 100, get a top top goalkeeper. Yes, that's something we can do. Because I think that when you look at every position right now, when you look at our team, that is what is missing. That is the only team.

27:09John Obi Mikel:That's the only thing right now that is missing. And we have to make sure we sort that out. You've got Mike Penders, but I know what you're going to say to this. I'm told from a number of scouts, everyone likes Mike, 21 years of age. Inexperienced in the Premier League. You need to get a chance sometime. But what you're saying is you need experience. You want someone who's at the top as opposed to someone that's coming. It's going to be a busy week at Stamford Bridge because new goalkeeper. Let's see what happens there. speculation last night coming through that Chelsea are in for the young Italian Nigerian young honest Ananor from Atalanta 18 years of age John already capped by Italy Nigerian mum Nigerian dad born in Italy I'm told he's top so I'm a little bit in the Champions League last year I think where does he play?

28:01John Obi Mikel:I don't know the kid sorry left back left centre back yep following I guess in your footsteps Celestine Babi Yaros of course being Nigerian mum and dad but now an Italian international it's a young kid for the future but Enzo Fernandez's future means that is another midfielder potentially going to be coming in because I guess that's the major question does Enzo stay yes or no what's your gut telling you honestly my personal opinion because I can see he wants to go the player wants to the player wants to leave. He wants to go. And I've said it so many times. There is no player that is bigger than a football club.

28:41John Obi Mikel:When a player has shown that he wants to leave the football club, when a player has shown that he's lost interest, when a player is looking somewhere else, when a player is not ready, there's no, it's not ready to fight for the club. The desire is not there. The commitment is not there anymore. You have to let the player go. There is no point keeping a player that is not happy, staying at the football club. It's not worth it. It's not worth it. You have to let the player go. Get the money and bring in someone else that's happy to be at the football club. Luckily enough, we're a huge football club.

29:15John Obi Mikel:We're a big, big football club. So for us to lose a player, it's okay. It's fine. He's been at the football club for a while now. He's had seasons where he performed well, seasons where he didn't perform well. So have we had the best of him? Maybe, maybe not. Is it good for him to leave now? Is it good for the football club that he goes? I think so. Let him go. The manager has come out and the manager hasn't categorically said, he's our player, he's not going anywhere. You can see this discussion going on. The player has probably gone and said, I want to go. But the question is, we've set a deadline, City didn't make a bid.

29:56John Obi Mikel:Now, are we going to start with the deadline and say, nope, there was a deadline you didn't make an offer and now that chapter is closed the player remains at the football club do you want to keep a player that's not happy he wants to go clearly city wants the player angel wants the player because he's worked with him at chelsea he knows what he can give him so let him go i saw the way we played on monday if we can get 120 million for him go out and get another midfield player we have we have caicedo in that midfield when you have caicedo in your midfield, I think you're 80 % good. 100 % there, yeah.

30:35John Obi Mikel:I think you're 80 % good, honestly. Because he's a top, top player. So we have to let him go, get the money, and go out there and spend the money to bring in one or two, one top, top midfield player that can play alongside Kaissero. We don't want to keep a player that's not happy. It's not good for the club. It's not good for the squad. It's not good for the players. It's not good around the training ground. environment the environment you need a player that's happy you need a happy environment so that when the manager comes in you walk into the training ground every day you see your players everybody's happy you don't want a player that's sulking around walking around thinking i didn't get my move i'm just going to be unhappy i'm just going to walk around because that starts affecting the squad start affecting the players so we need to get the money let him go and go out there and spend and get another top top midfielder because city wants the player and clearly enough he wants to go said it so many times chris if barcelona can let leonar macy leave the football club there is no fucking player in this planet that is bigger than a football club so if he's had enough if he's tired if he wants to fuck off the door is wide open get the money in and let him go so who then replaces him now we know that we well I say we know it's been widely reported at least one bid rejected for Alex Scott at Bournemouth oh I love him some reports have said there have been three bids yeah believe what you want there yeah 22 just missed out on Thomas Tuchel's England squad he was magnificent last season he was for Andoni Areola at Bournemouth yeah he seems to suit the profile of what Chelsea are trying to do Scott Caicedo with Lavia and I guess James behind that would you endorse that would you like that absolutely I will absolutely endorse that I think he's a top top midfield player 22 years old a player that has so much potential very very good player good on the ball the composure that he has on the ball is just absolutely superb can play in tight spaces can wriggle his way around tight spaces and that's what I like that's what I love about the player he's a bit of a maverick isn't he you know he has the socks like Jack Grealish.

32:52John Obi Mikel:Yeah, he does. He's a bit of a maverick. You know, he's a top-top player. I like him. I love what I saw last season, you know, last season. The way he plays. He gets around the pitch. He has a lot of energy. His engine is good. He can run. He's a player that can get into the box. He can score goals. We saw him got a few goals last season. Hard score away, right? Exactly. And that's what we need. We need a player that can get into the box and can also quickly track back and get back and do the other side of the game. but Alex Scott is that player. But the rumor is Bournemouth are not ready to sell.

33:25John Obi Mikel:No. Bournemouth want to keep the player for at least one more season. I think the manager has come out and say for his development, for his development as a player and for the club as well, I think they're in Europe right now. For him to play one season in Europe with the club, one more season with the club, that would probably enhance his move next season. Next summer, yeah. You know what I mean? So they want to keep him because he's a top-top player. Bournemouth has come out and they say they want to keep him. Will one season at Bournemouth do him the world of good? I personally think so because sometimes when players at young ages see, oh yeah, the big transfer, they quickly go for it and then sometimes it doesn't work out.

34:12John Obi Mikel:Would I want him at Chelsea? Absolutely. Would he be absolutely good for us? Yes. He would be a top-top player for us over the years. but I just think Bormuth is not ready to sell. But as you said, as we've said here, every player has a price. If we go out there and put in a bid of 80, 90 million, I think Bormuth will let him go. Get 120 million for Enzo. Go out there, knock on the door. Hey, Bormuth, this is what we can offer. On 80, 90 million. Because I think there's a potential. There's a potential there. He looks raw. He looks raw. He's playing in the Premier League now for the past couple of seasons.

34:51John Obi Mikel:He looks raw. You can feel that if he's well coached by a top, top manager, there's a few things where he can improve. There's a few areas where I think he can still improve. But when you watch him play, you can see there's something there. There is a player there. The potential is there to develop, to get better over the years. And I think if he comes to Chelsea with the manager that we have right now that can get the best out of these young players, I think he's coming to the best club in the world in terms of how he's going to develop as well. because Xabi Alonso is known for working with young players and getting the best out of young players.

35:24John Obi Mikel:So he's coming to a club with the squad that we have, young, mixed, experienced players right now with a mix of experienced players that we have, the likes of Jordan Henderson. They can also talk to him and try to guide him. Exactly. Guide him to the right direction. And that's what we need. I think that's what Jordan is there for, you know, talking to the players, guiding them, making sure everybody stays in the right lane. And I think if we get him through the door, Alex Scott I think he's coming to a top top club that will help him in terms of his development and of course he wants to play for England and I see him once he comes to Chelsea I think in the next couple of years he will be a top top player for England you and I have spoken many times on this pod frustration sometimes and some of the signings at Chelsea you made the joke as you bounded in today though tell you what they all got bloody right is selling players because you're about to bank 47.5 million up front 17 and a half million in adults for Nicholas Jackson, your best mate.

36:22And then 50 million quid for Liam DeLapp. I mean, I shake my head a little bit of that.

36:28John Obi Mikel:Unbelievable. Unbelievable. You know, we've talked about, so we've talked about how the club have got some of the signings absolutely wrong. Shit show of signings. But one thing they haven't got wrong is how they fucking sell the place. It's unbelievable. It's incredible how we manage to season after season. we buy players for less the price and we sell them for, you know, two, three times the profit. Well, Liam De La. It's crazy. Like Liam De La, Nicholas Jackson, even Enzo Fernandez right now, I think we bought him for about 90 something million or 100 million. Yeah, and now we're asking for 120.

37:03John Obi Mikel:So the one thing that the spotting directors and the football club, the blue core have got absolutely spot on is bringing money back into that football club with the players that they sell. It's incredible. I don't know who negotiates for them. I have absolutely no idea. That person needs a fucking bonus. He needs a fucking bonus. It's Lawrence and Paul to get all the stickers. They need a fucking bonus, I must say. Because the way they're selling plays, how they're convincing. Those are the teams to pay money for plays that we absolutely do not need. It's incredible. It's incredible. We can't, what, how much now for Nicholas Jackson?

37:45John Obi Mikel:65 or something like that? It's all been well, 65 million. And Liam Delape. And you signed him for, what, 30? Yeah, and Liam Delape, tell me, please. So you bought him for 35 last summer and you're selling him for? I said it from day one. He's not a Chelsea player. Oh, yeah. He is not. He was never a Chelsea player. And it's not the kid's fault. I'm not here to, you know, to talk about, to say bad things about the kid. But it's not his fault. He was never a Chelsea player. when bids come for you of course you have to go you have to go and try your luck and that's what he did but he was never a Chelsea player he's not good on the ball he's not quick enough he just doesn't suit the way we play he doesn't suit the football club and I saw it straight away but for us to sell him for more than we bought him how the fuck did we convince?

38:35It's inflation John either that or someone wants to rent Todd Bowley's American Holiday Home or something, I don't know, something in that, because you're right.

38:44John Obi Mikel:It's probably inflation. It's inflation. Because to get that money in, to get more money for him, it's just incredible. And I just think the club, on this aspect, I think they've done absolutely fantastic the way they've done their business in terms of selling plays and making profit, because they're bringing so much money back into the football club by selling plays that we absolutely do not need. It's just absolutely incredible. Like I said, whoever is doing that business, whoever is doing that negotiation needs an absolute bonus. He needs a raise because it's just incredible the amount of money that we bring it in.

39:20John Obi Mikel:And of course, this season, I must say, yes, we've done some good signings. Again, you know, when the club do the right thing, we also have to give them credit. I think this season we've done the right, we've done some right, the right signings. I can see with the right age, bringing in players with experience, mixing it up, which is exactly what we need. But again, Jordan Anderson and Danny Welbeck, the reason why the football, I don't know. Maybe there's a reason why they're in the football club. We've seen that they've not played yet. Maybe they will have a part to play. But I just think they're there for the experience.

39:58John Obi Mikel:You know, talking to the players, guiding the players, letting them know what the Premier League is about. You know, it's always difficult when you move from a different country, coming into the Premier League, and you don't know the culture of the football club. It's always important when you have an experienced player there that can talk to you, they can always try to guide you and let you know what the football club is about, what the culture of the league is about, because you need that as a player. You need that because it's a very, very difficult league. It's the most difficult league in the world.

40:25John Obi Mikel:When you come into this league, you need somebody that can be in your ears, talking to you week in, week out, every single day, letting you know what the culture of the league is about, what the football club stands for. And I think that's what Jordan Henderson and Danny Wahlbach are there for. Although they're not Chelsea legends, but they do know what the Premier League is about. Which is so important. And I think that's probably why they're there. Let me ask this question then, finishing on Chelsea. If they sign Emi Martinez slash experienced goalkeeper, they get the young boy from Atalanta who's a project for the future.

40:59Enzo goes and Alex Scott comes in. Are you happy when you look at that then, John, in the squad? are you like, yep, we can do something special this year?

41:08John Obi Mikel:Yeah, yeah, I think that's it. I think if we are able to do that. You still wait at number nine, don't you? If the club, Chris, tell me the reason why the club are not looking to make a change, to change the goalkeeper, to bring in another top-top goalkeeper. Tell me the reason why. There is no reason why. If you go with the stats, the mistakes that he's made, you can easily see that we do, absolutely do need another top, top goalkeeper. They can come in that can assure every single Chelsea fan, every player, the club, that this is a goalkeeper that when you look back at your goal, you know you have somebody that can make saves when he's called upon.

42:01John Obi Mikel:You need that to compete. we will never, and I've said it so many times, and I like how everybody now is jumping on the bandwagon, so many times, we cannot win the Premier League. We cannot win the Premier League with Robert Sanchez in our goal. It's impossible. It's absolutely impossible for us to win the Premier League with Robert Sanchez in our goal because he make far too many mistakes, costly mistakes, for us to be able to compete and win the premier league you cannot you cannot and i know the football club knows that the hierarchy knows that the manager now has seen that and that's why we've been linked with emmy martinez have we left a bit late maybe but that's something that teby aronzo should have known from before yeah should have known from the four the spotting direct everybody should have told him that, hey, this is one position that we're trying to strengthen.

43:04John Obi Mikel:He should have known that. And the club should have quickly, early in the summer, make that change. Have we left a bit too late? Maybe. But it's one position, absolutely crucial, absolutely crucial, that we do bring in under the top, top goalkeeper. Because I can smell something good happening this season. For us, for Chelsea, we are cooking something special. And something special needs a solid foundation. A solid foundation means having a top, top goalkeeper in goal. And right now, we do not have that. Can we still go out there and bring in a top, top goalkeeper before the end of the transfer window?

43:46John Obi Mikel:Absolutely. Do we have to? Absolutely. And that's something we have to do. Xabi Alonso must know that. And I'm sure he absolutely knows that. Yeah, I think everyone knows that, to your point. one little interesting record that Chelsea may yet set in this window, John, did a bit of research. Can I take you back to the summer of 2018, 19 AS Monaco hold the world record for the most amount of money made in a summer. It's the summer. They sold Kylian Mbappe to Paris Saint-Germain for about 166 million. Yeah. They made 360 million euros that summer. but if Chelsea sell Enzo Nicholas Jackson leaves De Lapp leaves who knows about Pedro Neto Chelsea have got a chance of breaking it add Sanchez to that add Sanchez to that I'll drive him to wherever he's going just not quite sure anyone's paying big money for Robert especially not if they're listening to this podcast I'll drive him you'll drive him I can't I've not got my licence I'll provide the ban Sanchez add to that City could break that record and then Aston Villa could break that record as well because the amount of money that is changing hands this summer is bonkers.

45:02I want to ask you about an African player. We talked on this podcast about Yandy Omande making the move to Real Madrid. Confirmation over the last couple of days. City, they've got Bouadi, the Moroccan. Please, in your position, I just wonder, another 18-year-old as well. 18-year-old, wow. You watched him in the World Cup, John. I know you've watched him a bit for League. Are you a big fan?

45:25John Obi Mikel:Big fan. Absolutely. Absolutely big fan. I think he's a, he's a absolutely top, top potential of a player. There's so much in him. Physical. Is he quick enough for the Premier League? Or you don't need to be quick. When you play in that position, I don't think you need to be that quick. But you need to have legs to be able to get around. Does he have the legs to get around? Yes. You don't have to be a sprinter to play in the middle of the park. You know what I mean? So, is he quick enough to play in the midfield, in the Premier League? Yes. Did I watch him, you know, during the summer? Yes. Very intelligent kid.

46:02John Obi Mikel:Good on the ball. The composure is there. He's very, very good on the ball. He has a lot of composure when he has the ball. Likes to play. And that's what you need. And I think that's what City need. And that's the City worth playing. Potential, 18-year-old. That's very, very young. And coming into the Premier League as well and going to a big, big club like City. A club that's been successful for over the years, the past 10 years, you know, they've been successful with one manager. Would he have loved to play for Pep Guardiola? Pep Guardiola would have been the best manager to get the best out of him?

46:34John Obi Mikel:Probably, yes. Absolutely, yes. But then now Pep has left the football club and Enzo Moreska is there. Who knows the style, the way the City play, the DNA of the way City play. But I just look at City this season. I think they're going to play differently. They're going to be more direct. They're going to try to be a bit more direct, Like not just the Pep way, which was the City way. I think we'll see a bit more change now with City. But Amir Bouadi, wow, I'm a huge, huge fan. Again, African player, Moroccan top, top player. So just, it's nice to see African players making waves. Like you say, Yandio Mandi going to Real Madrid now, you know, an 18-year-old joining City.

47:14John Obi Mikel:Very, very good on the ball. Talented player, a lot of potential. But again, I said it, you know, in this sport a few weeks ago. When you bring it into top-top midfield players, there was one player they could have learned from. There was one player they could have learned from. And he's gone. And he's gone. There was one player that could have shown them the city way, the way that that position is played, the way the fans want to see their team play. And that man is Rodri. Yeah, he's gone. When you look at Elliot Anderson as well, he needed that. He needed a player that he could learn from. a player that he can watch and see and learn from the way the city, you know, the city way.

47:52John Obi Mikel:Because it's difficult to learn the city way. I think when Roddy also joined the football club, it took him a little bit of time to be able to learn the Fernandinho way, the city way. Because that was how Fernandinho was playing. It took him a little bit of time for Pep to get the best out of him. And I just think that's what these young players would have needed. Can Angel Mariske teach them that city way? I'm not quite convinced that he's going to be that guy that would spend time coaching them. Is he a maverick of a manager like Pep Guardiola is? Week in, week out, pushing them, screaming and showing them the way.

48:26John Obi Mikel:We know he lived football. He was sometimes going crazy. Some of the clips we saw, you know, on social media, he was going crazy with players on the training ground. Scratching, scratch. You know, showing them the way he wants absolutely his midfield life because that is the core of the team. That's the injury room of the team. If you have your midfield players constantly showing up for the ball. A lot of people is now taking them this long to know what Rodri meant for Manchester City. I've been saying it from there on. For City to do well, Rodri has to be on the pitch. For City to play well, for City to compete to win the Premier League, Rodri has to be on the pitch.

49:06John Obi Mikel:Past couple of seasons he struggled with injury, City didn't win the league. And I just feel like right now, he was coming back to his best. But unfortunately, I just think if Pep Guardiola stayed, Rodri would have stayed. For one more year. 100%. He would have stayed for one more year. He would have absolutely stayed because he would have known there might be another shot for them to go on and win in the Premier League. So I think, yes, it's okay for City to bring in this young, talented, potential young players. But who is there during when the game is difficult? Who are they going to look around and see the experience, the calmness, the composure?

49:43John Obi Mikel:The way he can get his way out of tight situation, because that's what Rodri did. Showing up constantly for the ball, asking for the ball, little passes. He's not the guy who's played 40-yard passes. No, but it's about playing the right ball, the right time, in the right position. Breaking the lines with those passes. Forcing those plays. It doesn't matter if you make mistakes. Try to do the right thing. That's what Rodri did. Playing those ball between the lines. Breaking those plays. Showing up for the goalkeeper. Showing up for the defenders. Can he, can this young players do it? It might take them a bit of time.

50:17John Obi Mikel:It's a big ask. But if they have seen Rodri do it week in week out, that would have given them a lot of confidence because even if they make mistake, Rodri is that player that can beat and say, hey, hey, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here with you. It's okay. It's okay to make mistake. Yeah, because it's now three new, well. Exactly. If Enzo comes in, Boadi, Anderson, and Enzo Fernandez, three new players. Three new players and young players. And young players. So they needed that experience. Rodri would have been that guy to be able to show them that city way. It's crazy. But I think also the player wanted to leave.

50:52John Obi Mikel:He absolutely made it clear. He doesn't want to play under Enzo Maresca. Maybe there was something there before. Something happened between both of them. But I just think he absolutely wanted to return back to Spain. And of course, Barcelona now have got him. Did you, speaking of Pep, I'm sure you've seen the clip, John, that's gone viral. this new documentary where he's in the changing room he's having a pop at Ruben Diaz defending and he mentions Kyle Walker who's sat down on the ground and Kyle's like bleeping heck it's always me and there's a little bit really good insight John you've been in so many dressing rooms is that commonplace when a manager is saying something if a player is called out have you seen it more times than you care to remember when the players went hold on gaffer f off oh yeah have you oh yeah oh yeah i've seen it i've seen it so many times have you ever done no no you know no but i've seen the the the i've seen the top top guys do it you know the the you know the the captains the captains are the ones who do it mostly you know um i've seen when a manager's coming sometimes as managers you know when you want to pass your message across when you have to make sure everybody else listens to you you have to target the top top guys go for the top guys and everybody else will get in line everybody else will listen and i think that's what that's the pep way that's the system he wanted to to to use when he was making that comment when in that situation he wanted to go for the captain because he can see that the only way i can get into this squad the only way i can get my message across because they were not playing well they you know they were suffering the only way i can change this situation for everybody to wake up to get in line.

52:37John Obi Mikel:I have to go for the top guy. I have to go for the captain. That's why he mentioned Kyle Walker, Ruben Diaz. It was a compliment. Yeah. And that's what Pep was trying to, that was the message he was trying to pass across. You're my captain, he said. Yeah. And they said, but no, I'm not because I was voting. You didn't want me as captain. You didn't want me as captain. Whatever that was, yeah. But Pep wanted to pass his message across by going to the absolute top dog, which is the captain. If I go for the captain, everybody will watch. everybody will listen and everybody will get in line and that's the only way i can pass my message across but of course kyle has to come back with why do you always mention me and it's good to see managers and players have a little bit of that you know that conversation that argument especially when it happens in the dressing room which is the right place for that to happen that is an absolute right place for it to happen because if it happens on the pitch it's not good when he happens in the dressing room when he's quiet and everybody's listening everybody has their head you know you know don't look at me yeah don't look at me that is when you have to have this conversation that is when the uncomfortable situation conversation has to be had because when you call out your top players the young players have to watch and they have to listen they know wow he's going for kyle he's going for the captain i have to fucking wake up I have to sit up because if he's coming for me for him he's going to come for me we see that all the time and it's common when you have the manager and his top top his two three four captains when they argue when they try to pass a message across we've always seen that it's a little bit of you know back and forth and by the end of the day they both wanted to win it's the sign of winning team it's the sign of a team that wants to win it's the sign of a team that wants to continue to win they care about the football club because they know they haven't lived up to the expectation.

54:32John Obi Mikel:The way they've played for the past years, what they've won for the past year, what they've achieved for the past year, they're below par and they know they can do better. They have to get back to that. When you watch that and you watch that documentary and you see that happening, and I just wish that every team around the world will see that and copy that because it shouldn't be all smile and roses and hugging in the dressing room. No, have the uncomfortable conversation. Call out your captain. Call out your top players. Take the responsibility. Make sure they take accountability of the team not playing well, of the team not performing.

55:07John Obi Mikel:And I think that's what Pebodele did there. So it's interesting. It's a great, great kind of topic of conversation this, John, because that's on the one side. Then in the opening weekend, you see Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa striker, not in the squad, not making the journey down to Brighton. 4-0 defeat, finishing the game with 10 men. Unai Emery afterwards, asked, you know, only Watkins not here today said, ask him. Ask him. Nothing to do with me. We need a bit of Una Emery. We need more of Una Emery. That interview was brilliant. He was hurting. He was disappointed. He was frustrated. Hey, listen, you have to.

55:43John Obi Mikel:He looks like a frustrated manager. And when I look at Una Emery right now, he looks like a manager that's ready to throw in the towel. He looks like he's going to walk away. He looks like a manager, unless they back him, unless they go out there. Oh, Jackson backing him. And back, absolutely backing, because they sold well. So they have to invest that money back into the team. If they don't do that, I don't think he's going to be there long enough. I think he looks to me like a frustrated man, a manager who's got the team to Europe. And she's been... And he's just been absolutely... His squad has been ripped apart.

56:21John Obi Mikel:They've lost Morgan Rodgers, Tillemans. Dini. Konsa. Konsa. Dini. Maybe Martinez. Watkins. Watkins. they absolutely ripped the spine of the team apart. You can't do that in one transfer window. When you've qualified for the Champions League, winner of the Europa League. Winner of the Europa League. I don't understand why they're letting these players go. Is it also the model of the football club? If you're not happy, if you want to go, fine, we'll let you go. And the financial fair play. And the financial fair play as well. Because when you qualify for the Champions League and you achieve so much like they did last season, Aston Villa, They were absolutely brilliant, absolutely superb what they achieved.

56:59John Obi Mikel:One of the best managers in the Premier League, one of the most experienced players in the Premier League have won the Europa League for so many years. A manager that knows how to get the best out of his players has been at that club for such a long time. When people question them, they rise up and they get back to winning ways. A lot of people question the start of the season last season. But then he took that club to an absolute top. Absolute top, the way they finished the season. And that's what Unai Remy gives you. We've seen him lose players over the years. We've seen him rebuild squad. But nothing compared to this.

57:34John Obi Mikel:No. Nothing compared to this. This is the spine of the team. It's like check Teddy Lampard-Drogba. In one go. In one window. In one window. I just think it's crazy. But if any manager can be able to bounce back, if any manager has the experience to be able to bounce back, get this team again to settle, bring in two or three players. I hope they bring in two or three players before the end of the transfer window because they will absolutely need that because they were absolutely shocking against Brighton. Absolutely shocking. There was no energy. There was, they were losing the ball. It was sloppy.

58:11John Obi Mikel:Individuals. Individual mistakes. It just shows you that when you lose the amount of players they've done, and of course, when you have your top, top striker saying that he doesn't want to play, he's trying to force a move. All that just bring negativity around the place the manager is not settled the manager is confused he doesn't know what who is working with the place that's coming in the place that's leaving it's like every other day a player is leaving Aston Villa every other day a player leaves Aston Villa it's it's crazy to see and all in one window so it's just frustrating I can understand where Unai is coming from he looks like an absolute frustrated manager and I just hope that the club goes back into the transfer window, back the manager, bring in players because they were absolutely needed.

58:55John Obi Mikel:They were absolutely shambles. They were shocking to watch, you know, at the weekend. Absolutely destroyed. Brighton absolutely destroyed them. And he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to continue like this. They need players to come in and I think they need players fairly quickly because this is going to be a tough, tough season for them if they don't go out there and bring in two or three players. Tough, tough players that can help this team. If you're a teammate of Oli Watkins, John, are you pissed off? I know it's part and parcel of football and ultimately footballers need to look after themselves and their family.

59:28I get all of that. But, but, do you not feel let down? Opening day of the season and Oli Watkins has went, nah, don't fancy it. I'm going to do it.

59:40John Obi Mikel:Listen, players, we are who we are, right? You can say, players are players loyal. Some are. Some aren't. Are clubs loyal? Again, no. You can make a debate about that. Yeah, if it suits them. When it suits them, they want you. When they don't want you, they want to get the fuck out. They want to get rid of you. Yeah. So you also have to look after yourself. You have to look after your family. You have to look after your best interest, what's good for you. I just think right now, loyalty in football is going out of the fucking window. I'm being naive. There's nothing like that anymore right now.

1:00:21John Obi Mikel:Back in the day, yes. When you have Paolo Maldini start a football club for the rest of his life, you have Steven Gerrard, you have John Terry, Ryan Giggs, Totti, Del Piero. In the Premier League, you have players like Roy Keane. We don't have that anymore. Giggs, Scholes. You don't have that anymore. It's about. and there's no loyalty on both sides. There's no loyalty on both sides. You can say the players have loyalty because they sign a contract and after two, three years, they want to get the fuck out of it. Do the club also have loyalty to the players? Yeah, you give them a five-year deal you want to do them.

1:01:03John Obi Mikel:Exactly. So both sides, there's no loyalty. So when you talk about Ivan... Oli Watkins. Oli Watkins. What is he now? 30 years old. 30, about 2031. 30, about 2031. has he looked at it and thought you know what i've been in this league for a very long time i've scored goals i've had very very good seasons the seasons where i've been absolutely fantastic but yet but yet no top clubs have come in for me no top clubs have said let's go get ollie walkins Nobody. And now he's 30. Arsenal did, but they didn't come up with the best. With the cash? With the cash. So if you want a player, you pay the top dollar to get him.

1:01:52John Obi Mikel:And he just looked at that and thought, It's my last contract. It's my last contract. I'm going to be 31. Do I want to continue to do this in the Premier League? Or, that's a huge contract here. Where can go? Tax-free. Tax-free. Play for two, three seasons. four or five seasons, who knows? Make a lot of money. Set my family up. My kids, my grandkids. My great-great-grandkids. My great-great-grandkids. You know, get whatever I can, whatever I want in life. You know, look after my family. Settle my family. He's probably looked at that and thought, should I continue to try season after season, trying to force a big move, play for a top club?

1:02:36John Obi Mikel:And? or this is the right time for me to move. Especially when he's seeing all the big players leave around him, he's thinking, I don't know where we're going. Exactly. He's looked at him and thinking, the spine of my team is gone. You know, how are we going to be successful with this new players, with these young players coming in? Because the model now of Aston Villa is to buy young. Is that going to work for him? He's going to be 31. So he's probably looked at him and thought, you know what? I think it's time for me to move. It's time for me to go to Saudi Arabia, get the cash. He's probably best met with, who knows, friends with Ivan Toni, he's probably told him, mate, whoa.

1:03:11John Obi Mikel:He's looked at him, probably seen him with his Rolls Royces and all that that he's buying and thinking, probably had a word in his ears and said, hey, life is good out here. It's not as bad as people make it to look like. I've been to Saudi. It's a nice place. It is. It's not as bad as people make it to look. You come here, you play two, three seasons and you make the money that you, it's only 30, it's going to be 33, 34. He can still come back to Europe. He can still come back to the Premier League or go somewhere else in Europe and finish his career. But he's probably looked at it and thought, you know what?

1:03:40John Obi Mikel:Two, three seasons is not bad for me to go to Saudi Arabia, make the cash, get my family all sorted, and I can move back to Europe. So for me, is it going about it the right way? Not playing for the team, not saying I'm not going to play? Maybe not. But again, like I said earlier, the loyalty on both sides is gone. So I can't blame him right now. When I see players come out and behave the way they behave right now, I don't blame them because when the team, when the club absolutely don't want them, they fucking get rid of them like, you know, like they drop them like a fucking piece of shit. Yeah.

1:04:14John Obi Mikel:Like a piece of shit. And the players have to also look after themselves. And there's nothing wrong with that. So he's not, and players understand that in the dressing room, players are like, get on with it. That's why I say for the, what is best for both sides, get the money, let the player go. Yeah. whoever is not happy because the loyalty is not there anymore get the money and let him go because there's always players that's ready to come to the football club always always and Nicholas Jackson is and Nicholas Jackson is a good enough striker you know he's just not the striker for Chelsea football club it just doesn't suit him sometimes yes he plays well does he score enough goals no but Unai Amri knows him really well from Villarreal both of them have worked together before so probably he's seen and he knows he can get the best out of him.

1:05:01John Obi Mikel:So that's not a bad deal for both sides. So it's not a bad deal for us if we get the money in. And I think it's not a bad deal for Aston Villa because a manager, he's getting a player that he's worked with before. And he knows probably how to get the best out of Nicholas Jackson. We're only one weekend in, John, but have a bit of fun with this. Some snap judgments from what we saw in the opening weekend of the season. I'm going to get booed at this. I think it's clear we said it before it. Arsenal are going to win the league, I believe. I think they might even win it by double point. double digits.

1:05:30I just think, John, they're so far ahead.

1:05:33John Obi Mikel:No, I don't think so. You don't? You think I'll be closer? I like this question, but I think, you know, we have to talk about your team. Wow. Oh my God. We are there. We were awful. Wow. Manchester United. Wow. Wow. Awful. Absolutely awful. Awful to watch. Awful. Awful to watch. There was no tempo. It was absolutely slow, sloppy. It was an absolute shisho to watch. To go to Hull, no disrespect to Hull, a team that just got promoted to the Premier League. Through the playoffs. Through the playoffs. I mean, they were not meant to be in the Premier League, but through the playoffs. And of course, with the Spigate scandal, whatever it was, I think, yeah, I think that's why they got it, yeah.

1:06:16Oh, yeah, he got the reprieve.

1:06:18John Obi Mikel:So for Manchester United to lose to Hull City the way they did, 2-0, absolutely shocking. I mean, from the defence to the midfield, to everybody else in front was absolute shocking. Absolute shocking. The defense, when you have your top, top center back, your best center back. Defending one of his own players. Your top center back is Harry Maguire. You have a problem. You have a problem. I'm not disagreeing about it. The Giza has had a good season, right? Off the back of a good end. No, no, no, no, no, no. At Leicester City. At Leicester City. He's had a good career at Leicester City. Harry Maguire was never a Manchester United player.

1:07:00John Obi Mikel:He was never a Manchester United defender. Never. Doesn't suit the system. It doesn't suit the football club. The fact that he's managed to stay there for seven, eight years now, it's incredible. How's that happened? Because of... How's that happened? He's a lay in the boardroom. I don't understand that. And he's still there. Still there. He's still there. And he's your number one, absolute number one defender. There's a problem. Yeah. He was... The first goal he was grabbing his own. That's right. His own player. He was defending. He was holding him from going to defend to stop the guy from scoring.

1:07:35John Obi Mikel:He was holding him. What he was doing, I have no idea. I thought that he knows what he was doing. What he was seeing, I have absolutely no idea. That's a problem. That is an absolute problem. I just think that Michael Carrick, again, I know they have delits. they have Lissandro Martinez. They have Lenny Euro. They have plays there. He didn't even. But again, that's part of it. But they have plays there. But the reason why he's still starting, I don't know why. Is it good to be the squad player because of the experience right now? One of the leaders in the squad? Yes. But not to start games. Not to be your best.

1:08:15John Obi Mikel:Your number one center back. Because number one, he's slow on the ball. He touches the ball two, three, four times before he releases the ball. He doesn't know what to do with the ball when he has the ball. He's confused when he has the ball. When the ball comes to him, he doesn't know what to do with the ball. And for a centre-back, you need to zip the ball quicker. You need to move the ball quicker. Harry Maguire doesn't know how to do that quickly enough. Move the ball quickly enough. Get the team to play in the right tempo. He doesn't do that. And for Manchester United, those players in front, they need the ball to come to them quickly enough so that the transition can be quick enough.

1:08:51John Obi Mikel:Telemans needs the ball quick enough. everything needs to be done quicker everything needs to be done quick enough the tempo was it was sluggish it was awful it was awful to watch there was no desire there was no commitment from the players it looked awful absolute awful and for michael carrick to come out and say well it's a first game of course it's a fucking first game but the way you finish the season last season everybody expected you to carry on to continue the way you finish the season last season he has most of his players did not go to the World Cup. They've all rested. Mbuemo. Mbuemo.

1:09:24Dorgu. Santos the middle of the pitch. Tilleman left quicker because he was in.

1:09:29John Obi Mikel:Heaven wasn't. So you have most of your core players. They're not tired. They had a good preseason. They had a good rest in the summer. That's no excuse. That's not an excuse to play the way they did. No, it's not. Hull absolutely bullied them. I bullied them. Bullied them. From the start till the finish. They were first to everything. first to first ball. They wanted it more. Second ball, they were first to second ball, they were first to first ball. They looked like they were playing with the right tempo. They were aggressive. They were quick. They outrun Manchester United. They looked very, very hungry the way they played.

1:10:02John Obi Mikel:And Manchester United looked bullied by Hull. There was nobody fighting. There was nobody. And for them to come out after the game, some of the comments, oh, it's the first game. And that's the problem, Joe. That is the problem. It's the shrug of the shoulder. It's the shrug of the shoulders. that's always just a false game. Just doesn't hurt them. You know what I'm saying? Yes, they concede two set pieces. Yes. But you did lose the game. You did lose the game. They were saying, some of them said, oh, it's just two set pieces. But you did lose the fucking game. So attention to details, intensity, desire, commitment.

1:10:38John Obi Mikel:There was none of that. Absolutely none. They were slow, sluggish. Nothing was working. And again, like I said, to move the ball quicker, When you watch us play, LeCouin, Levi Cohen, Achimpom, Rizzo, the tempo of the ball, moving the ball, one touch, two touch, aggressive passes, moving the ball quicker to your top players who can create. Zipping that ball to the midfield players, from the midfield players to the strikers. It has to be done quicker. You have to move the ball quicker. I remember when we were playing so slow and we walked into the dressing room, the manager's like, what the fuck are you guys doing?

1:11:12John Obi Mikel:I need the ball to move quicker. Zip the ball quicker. Move the ball quicker. one or two touches, everybody moving. That's what you have to do in the Premier League to get opportunities. And Manchester United did not do that. You have to earn it. And it's just, it was absolutely awful to watch. And I just hope that Michael Carrick, I like Michael Carrick, what he's done with the football club last season, but fucking hell, he needs to get those players to wake the fuck up. It's a long weekend here in Dubai. I was actually in a good mood. Now you've put me in a fight. I kind of forgot about what we witnessed on Saturday.

1:11:43So from a snap judgment then, I think I know where you're going with this. If United keep that up, he's done. He's done. He will not last until the end of the season. No, he will not.

1:11:52John Obi Mikel:No, he will not. And I like Michael Carrick. I think he's a good manager. He knows the football club. He's been there. And what he did last season, we were here talking last season, saying, if the season started when Michael Carrick took over, my United would have been first or second in the league. Yeah, they would have. They would have been. Again, Chris, I don't want to say it sounds like the players. Yes, it's the start of the season. I get that. But the way they lost the game, the manner in which they lost the game, that is a problem. That is a problem. In the manner in which they lost the game.

1:12:24John Obi Mikel:You can lose the football game, yes. But in the manner of the way they lost the game. Shoked everyone. Shocking. Absolutely shocking. And to be clear, it shocked everyone. Exactly. So I hope that Michael Carrick get back to the drawing board and look at the way they played last season towards the end of last season. But again, the transfer window is still open. Get another top center back. Delete is not reliable. is always injured. Lissandro Martinez also always injured. Maguire not eight. So you have two center backs that are liabilities with injuries. Maguire for me is not eight. He's not eight.

1:12:56John Obi Mikel:Leniero is still struggling to get into the Manchester United way. Haven is not really, he's still young. He can, he can, he can grow with his potential there. He's raw. You need an experienced top, top center back that can come into this Manchester United team. I think they need two, two top tops and two top center back. And Luke Shaw has also been there for a long time. And I just think, again, his performances up and down. Again, another defender that, again, liability will be injured. He's always injured. Most of the time injured. But he's been fit now for the past season. Yeah, last season he did well.

1:13:30John Obi Mikel:But Manchester United need to get top center backs in because, yes, do they have a good squad? Yes. Do they have Tred up front? Mbwemo, Acuna, Sesco, Fernandez, Amadiallo, now with Rashford as well. Tillemans, yes, had a shocking game. Slow, sloppy, everything you can name. He was Tillemans, but I still think he will come good. I believe that Tillemans will come good. He's a fantastic player. He's an experienced player. Baliba now in his way. Baliba as well, which I think, again, when I watch the game, I look at Tillemans. Tillemans needs, he needs legs around him. He absolutely needs legs. And Santos is not that guy.

1:14:09John Obi Mikel:No, no, no, no. I told you from the start, we're giving you guys the scraps. I'm sure. How you guys paid 50, 60 million for him? Again, I have absolutely no idea. And you were telling me how he was playing the preseason. We've seen players absolutely set the world on fire during preseason. And then the season starts, you're thinking, fuck me, is that the player that I saw during the preseason? It was a bit like that on time. Honestly, it's a bit like that. So, Baliba, I think if he comes in and plays the way we know he can play, he has the legs to run around. He has the legs to get around the pitch.

1:14:42John Obi Mikel:and I think he will be suitable for Manchester United because he will give Telemans that freedom to be able to go there, to go around, get the ball and use that experience, that calmness that he needs to play those final passes and be the player that he can be. And again, yeah, Kobe Mino. He needs to come in as well. He needs to come in. Why he doesn't play? You can't tell it because he was tired because he didn't play a single minute at the World Cup. I think he was injured was that he had back into the World Cup. So I wonder if he's nursing. I don't know. I don't think so. No, no, no, no, no.

1:15:18John Obi Mikel:I don't think he was injured because I think why he didn't play that game because why would you play him at the third third place playoff? I mean, you haven't used him not a single minute. I think he was just frustrated. He got upset and he was like, fuck it, I'm not playing that game. He's not playing much at all. Exactly. So for me, Kobe Mino has to come in. He has to come in because he's better than everything you have right now. I know. He is better than everything. The boys that we bought. Brilliant. Cheers, John. Tilleman's here, maybe. Tilleman's here with his quality, with his composure, and the way he plays the game with his experience, yes.

1:15:53John Obi Mikel:But I believe that Kobe Miner should be starting for Manchester United midfield because you're not telling me that every player you have in that position is miles better than Kobe Miner. No way. No way. Because everybody that played on that weekend, where miles, absolutely miles of it, miles of it. So for me, I think Kobe Miner should start in that Manchester United midfield. Beliba is a very, very good addition to that squad. And I think when you have Beliba, you have either Tillemans playing alongside him or Kobe Miner and Bruno Fernandes as well. So I think the signing of Beliba is a good, good signing.

1:16:30John Obi Mikel:Very, very good signing. I think they've been after him for a very long time and now the deal is done. And it looked like the player absolutely, really wanted to play for Manchester United. and he has the legs to get around the pitch. He's good on the ball. He's quick. He can make tackles. He can break up plays. And I think that was what Manchester United has been lacking for many, many years right now. Obviously, I think since you lost Roy Keane, I don't think you've had that player that can get into tackles. So I think Belieber might be that player to bring that. And he's very, very good on the ball.

1:16:57John Obi Mikel:So hopefully that might be something that you absolutely need. So one of your stop judgments is, Michael, be careful. I'll go down to your arsenal to win the league. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this. Cole Palmer, end of the season, will be made play with you. No, no, no. Arsenal winning the league. You've just said they're going to run away. I don't think they're going to run away. Ten points. No, absolutely no. Ten points. I don't think Arsenal would run away with this league. Listen. It's the first game. It's the... It's a snob judgment, I know. Yeah. And we've seen Arsenal, right?

1:17:28John Obi Mikel:When it comes to pressure, they haven't been able to deal with pressure over these years. They just got over the line One season But they haven't been able To deal with pressure, right? So the pressure now Is defending the title They've never defended the title In their history Never defended the title So this will be the first time And I think that's why The club They want to make that They want to make sure They absolutely defend the title That's why they've gone out They've spent money They've strengthened The squad again And I When I look at Arsenal Yes, did they play well In the first game?

1:18:00John Obi Mikel:Absolutely Were they superb? Yes, they were Did they play the right way the fans want them to play? Yes, they were exciting to watch. You know, there was a lot of creativity. They played well. They scored goals without set pieces, without corner kicks. They looked sharp. They looked happy playing. And I just feel that everything was flowing for Arsenal. They look like a team that's gelling. And that's when we talk about a team that's settled. That's what you see with Arsenal. You look at all around the league, the top five, top six. They are the team that is absolutely settled. They have a manager that's been there for a very long time, have brought in his place.

1:18:33John Obi Mikel:knows the squad, knows his players, and he's still strengthening. And he's won the league now. So the pressure of that is gone, of winning the league. The shackles are off. Now can they defend it? Can they play a brand of football that the fans want them to play? Which is exciting football. Seeing their creative players play with no shackles. Freedom. Freedom to play. Saka, that we know, is an absolute superpower player. Play with excitement. Play with freedom. Express yourself. Yes. You know what I mean? And that's what Arsenal fans want to see. And we as fans, we want to see if they can be able to play that way.

1:19:09Defend the title with style.

1:19:13John Obi Mikel:Play with style. Win games. And it will be interesting to see how they do that. Because can they do that? Of course they have the squad to do that. Do they have the best squad in the league? Of course they absolutely do that. Do they have the manager to do that? Of course they do. So I want to see them play well and win well. because that's what their fans want. But I don't believe that this Arsenal team will run away with it. Can they win the Premier League again? Yes. But I don't believe that they can absolutely run away with it. Like with 10 points, no. I think there will be teams in this league that will cause them problems.

1:19:52John Obi Mikel:And I think we're one of them. I think Chelsea's one of them. I think City will be one of them. Liverpool will get better. Don't forget, these teams will get better during the season. Things will change. Players will settle. Squad will settle. The managers finally know the players that they have. They will start to build a team. When I look at Tottenham, they have so many good players, but they don't have a team. Right now, they don't have a team. De Zabi is trying to build a team. Does he have good players right now? Yes, he does. Does he have a good squad? Yes, he does. Does he have a team? No.

1:20:27John Obi Mikel:Now it's his job to build a team. Trying to find what works for everybody. What works for the team. Where do I place this player? Is this his right position? How do I get the team to gel as a team? That is deserved because I think Spurs, they are also cooking something really, really special because of the players that they have. When you have Tonali in that midfield, Fernandez in that midfield, now Savio is called, his name is now Savio. Great goal last night. Mamouche is going to join the team as well. You know, you have Kudos who's going to come back from injury. Kulosevski is going to come back from injury.

1:20:59John Obi Mikel:you know, these are players that they have. So they have some top, top players but do not have a squad. So De Zerbe has got a very, very big tax in his hand of creating a team that can compete in this Premier League because the team, the club has gone out and they've backed him. They brought him players, top, top players but it's time now for him to create a team that's going to be difficult to beat. We're going to finish on agreeing with something. Cole Palmer will be plate of the year come the end of the season? If he continues like this, yes. If he's injury-free, yes. Because to me, he looks like a player that is happy playing his football again.

1:21:43John Obi Mikel:Performing like the Cole Palmer that we know. Playing the way we know Cole Palmer can do. That is important. Playing the way that we know that Cole Palmer can do, can perform. Expressing himself. Happy. Playing with that freedom. Shackles off. injury free, first on second touch, creating chances, scoring goals, gaining on the score sheet, celebrating with the fans. That's what we want to see, the commitment, the desire to win games, to perform, help your team knowing that he is the main man. He is the main man of that. It doesn't matter who you brought him. Cole Palmer is our best player. I've said it so many times last season, build your squad around Cole Palmer and you see the best out of Cole Palmer.

1:22:26John Obi Mikel:A manager that puts his arm around him, A manager that emotionally can create friendship with him. You see Xabi Alonso putting his arm around him, smiling to him, talking with him, laughing with him. I don't think Enzo Mareska is that guy. Emotionally, he doesn't smile much. There's something, there's distance always with him. And I just felt that Cole Palma last season lost a bit of interest. And now I can see that interest is coming back. That desire to compete, to help the team, knowing that he's at Chelsea Football Club and he is that main man. I think come the end of the season is he going to be the best player of the Premier League I believe if he stays injury free if he's happy performing the way he's doing I think he'll be top three that's what I believe I'm with you I think he is the one to watch this season I really do listen I just want to mark your cards if I can as well because Monday another big interview or JJ or Kocha interview if you have yet to listen to that get on it one of my favourite interviews that we've done on this podcast yes I mean He's been absolutely superb.

1:23:26John Obi Mikel:He was brilliant. But what I don't understand, you know, a guy is getting absolutely hammered for just saying, making his own opinion on what he believes. An observation. An observation of who, his own opinion. And I think right now we live in a world where everybody thinks his opinion, my opinion and your opinion has to be the same. No, your opinion, you're entitled to your opinion. I am absolutely entitled to my own opinion. I don't have to believe that your opinion is the right one. You don't have to believe that my opinion is the right one. This is the world we live in, right? Everybody believes, no, because I support so-and-so team, because I'm a fan of so-and-so.

1:24:08John Obi Mikel:You have to. I want you to become a fan of this. No. Your entitlement is your entitlement. Your opinion is your opinion. And what JJ said. It's a free world. And what the guy said is just his own opinion. and I don't understand why people are saying oh you shouldn't fucking hell grow up grow up everybody grow up because your opinion I never come here and say your opinion is is wrong your opinion is shit no because you are absolutely 100 % entitled to your opinion and everybody when people come out make their statement and say what they think they believe is the right one we have to accept it and move on because we live in a free world where everybody is entitled to make their opinion.

1:24:53John Obi Mikel:And you have to get on with it and live with it. So it's been an absolute, his episode has been absolutely superb. If you're watching it, Muhammad, if you are watching this, then John is right. Your opinion does matter. That gag is for those that have listened or watched the podcast. Fantastic. Monday though, Obafemi Martins. Yes, yes. Oba Golds. On another X player, on another podcast. Yep, yep. Tune in for that. That will drop on Monday. So mark your cards for that. We'll of course be back. We're taking the Mikel as we go throughout the season. We're up and running though, John. Win for Chelsea.

1:25:26Watch them fly this season. What I've said about United, the better. Ta-ra for now.

1:25:51Thank you.

1:26:21Thank you.

1:26:51Thank you.

1:27:21Thank you.

1:28:07Right, I'm backing three home wins in this week two of the Premier League. I'm going to start at Anfield. I'm expecting Liverpool to be too good for Nottingham Forest. Roberto de Serbian spurs to heap more misery on Newcastle. and then I've got to do it on Sunday, Old Trafford, Manchester United to get a reaction against Ipswich. My top three picks.

1:28:33Liverpool, Spurs.