‘They deserved it’: Arsenal humble Mikel, Pep v Sir Alex, Xabi Alonso coup & why Salah is RIGHT!

23:21John Obi Mikel:knowing that this absolutely young, hungry man is coming after his title. They're coming after him. They're coming to dethrone him. But he's still there. And what is achieved with this city side? What is it? Six Premier League titles in one? 20 titles in 10 years. 20 titles in 10 years. That is monumental. That is crazy. He also has, I was doing the crunching the numbers as you do on all of this. He's got the best, no surprise, best winning percentage out of all the top managers in the Premier League 70.9 % of matches he's gone into he's won but in terms of longevity I mean I'm a man in terms of longevity yes the way I would put it to you John but if Pep decides to stay for another 10 years you think he's not going to break Salah's record he'd absolutely smash it he would smash it I bet you right now if he stays for another 10 years and he gets back by the City side don't do it don't do it don't do it and if he gets back by the city owners and he brings in the players that he wants that's going to strengthen this team.

24:24John Obi Mikel:Spends money in the summer. Get a couple of more players in. He will absolutely dominate again because he's not far off. It's not like they've slid down the table. No. They finish second. They won two titles. So he's there. He's not far off. He's not miles off it. So that's what I'm saying. If he stays for another five, ten years, he will absolutely break up to Alex Vegas' record. There is no question about that. It took the guy 10 years to win six Premier League titles and 20 titles. That is absolutely crazy. I love Sir Alex Vegas. We all respect he's the don. He's the don. We know he's the godfather of managers in the Premier League.

25:04But, you

25:06John Obi Mikel:can't deny what Pep Guardiola's done. We love Sir Alex Vegas. We can't deny. The stats are there. The stats can back it up. We cannot deny what this guy has done. He's changed the game. He came in and he said to himself, yes, this is the Premier League. I know that. But I am Pep Guardiola. I am going to change this league. And he did that. And he was successful. That is what you call a great manager. I agree. To your point. I think the expression I would coin with this is, I still believe, my opinion doesn't matter, but Sir Alex Ferguson, in terms of what he won, the greatest. But Pep Guardiola, the best.

25:48Try and unwrap that if you can. Guardiola is, to your point, he's impacted the game like no one else. You look back in the Premier League era, Arsene Wenger, revolutionary at the time, Guardiola's taking that on infinitum. But 27 years in the job to win his first league title in 93, his last league title in 2013, his final season, 20-year spell, building four, arguably, phenomenal teams. I do take your point. If Pep was to stay another 10, 15 years, he'd maybe match that mark. But the fact is, he's not. He's leaving after 10 years.

26:24John Obi Mikel:The fact that City have got 10 years out of him, that's absolutely incredible. Because we all know that he doesn't stay for too long. I thought he was staying free. Yeah, we all know that Pep does. But I just think he fell in love with the club. He fell in love with the owners, the project. Manchester. and where he could be able to bring in players. And he could also call the shot on players when he sees, okay, you know what? I absolutely, absolutely love you. But I think this is the time to move you on. He has the right to do that. He's had the right to do that. So everything was given to him to do and be successful.

26:55John Obi Mikel:So he absolutely took that and ran with it. So for me, for City to have been able to get 10 years out of him, that's absolutely fantastic. And you can see the fans don't want him to leave. Nobody wants him to leave. Because even for the Premier League, Pep Guardiola's left the Premier League. When Klopp left, it was a big impact. Yeah, I know where you're going. It was a huge impact. And now Pep Guardiola is leaving. Who's left? Who's left? Like, I mean, you're watching the Premier League and looking at all these managers in the touchline, you're thinking, there is no Pep Guardiola. There is no...

27:32John Obi Mikel:Not only that he changed the way the game is played, he absolutely changed the way the manager's dress right now. Look at all the managers. Cargo pants. Cargo pants, his boots, his... You know, managers before, they all used to wear suit and all. No, Pep not only revolutionized the way the game is played, he's also changed... What people are waiting. What the manager's dress... How the manager's dress right now. Look at Vincent Kompany. The way he's dressing. You might think he's going to China White or Movida nightclub. He's celebrating. But that's coming from looking at and seeing what Pep has done.

28:08Yeah.

28:08John Obi Mikel:It's not just about the game. He's changed everything. Everything. Get back the suits on. That's what I see. The suits are not even there anymore. You go to the... But I must say, the only one place I will still respect and still want to see every man. When you step your foot on that stadium, you have to put suits on. It's Wembley. Wembley final. have to. Champions League final. Wembley final. Because that is that is a unique unique stadium. Unique absolutely unique stadium. Suit tie. You have to respect the Wembley stadium. When you get to Wembley put your suit on and make sure you dress absolutely accordingly.

28:51John Obi Mikel:Accordingly. Yeah yeah. Fair. So Pep stay. Maybe it's the last time you step your foot there but next time you go there please make sure you put your suit on. Indeed. I want to ask because if Pep and if he does leave, he leaves a vacuum. Enzo, you're a huge fan of. We're expecting him to come in. He's got big shoes to fill. But in terms of another manager that's coming into English football in the summer, let's get to the big announcement. It broke not long after we did our little watch along at the Emirates FA Cup final with the Chelsea Supporters Club here in Dubai. Jabby Alonso starts on July 1st.

29:26Four-year deal. the owners have listened to this pod. It's not head coach. It's what you wanted.

29:33John Obi Mikel:They are listening. It's a manager. He's come in as a bit like Mikel Arteta, a bit like Pep. He's the main man. Xabi, are you happy? First of all, I would have to say that yes. Glad to see that the owners, the spotting directors, the people that are in charge of the football club are absolutely watching and listening to the podcast, which is great to see. And also listening to the fans, who are the owners of the football club. And it's good to also see that they're willing to make changes. They're willing to listen. When it's not going right, they're willing to make changes. We've talked about it.

30:11John Obi Mikel:Forget about these coaches. Coaches here, there, coaches. No. What we need and what we've always had was managers. A manager that can come in who decides, the players that I want, the players that I want out. That's what we've got now, a manager. So that title has been changed from coach to manager, which is good news. I hope it's just not a word of words. I hope it's not. Let's just put the title there, manager, and just try to confuse everybody and think, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, you want a manager, we'll give you a new manager. No, I hope they can follow through with it. The title comes with his responsibility, what he has to do.

30:55John Obi Mikel:and the manager has his input on the players that comes in and goes out. That is the difference. And that's what Xabi Alonso is going to have. He's going to have his input. I hope it is a collective thing between the owners, the sporting directors, and the manager, who's going to be the guy that's going to bring the best out of this place. So he absolutely has the right to decide who comes in and who goes out. So that is one part of it. And I'm so glad, I'm happy that Xabi Alonso has come to the football club. I think he's a brilliant manager. I think he's a young, talented manager. We've seen what he did with Leverkusen, where they went on beating.

31:30John Obi Mikel:And to break that change of Bayern Munich winning the Bundesliga year in, year out. He managed to do that with his Bayern Leverkusen side. They play some absolutely fantastic football. He's a manager also, student of Pep Guardiola as well. The way he plays the game, the way he wants to dominate the game. He wants to play in the front foot, attacking play, pressing. And that's what we want. That's what we want to see because we have the talent. We have the players. We have the potential to do that. And I hope Tabian Lozzi can be able to bring that out of these players because I look at our score right now, and there's a lot of players that look to me that don't want to be there.

32:08John Obi Mikel:He's a manager that's going to come in straight away and command respect, command discipline, because he's been there. He's done it. As a player, he's won titles. As a manager, he's won titles. So that's what you need. and manager's going to walk him through the door and the players are going to look at him and say, you know what? Woo, that's Chepia Lonson. I'm going to respect him. I'm going to listen to what he's telling me because he's done it. He's won titles as a player. And as a manager. And as a manager. Yeah. That's huge. Because sometimes players, we are very, we look at it and think, oh, am I going to respect this guy?

32:39Who the fuck is this?

32:41John Obi Mikel:But when they see a manager that has been there, done it, straight away, the mentality changes. And that's what I want to see. those players that, to me, for the past couple of months has looked disinterested at the football club, I hope that comes back. I want to see Cole Palmer next season. Be the Cole Palmer that we know. If Enzo Fernandez wants to stay, I want to see him stay. But I want to see the quality and everything just improve. Taking it to another level. The consistency. And I also think that Chepia Alonso is a manager that's going to come in and bring in that one thing that we all need, that we deserve.

33:17John Obi Mikel:at this Chelsea football club, in this squad that we have right now, which is experience. Players with character. Leaders. Yeah, we can lead. That's what we need. Xhaka. Yes, exactly. Bayer Leverkusen, he did it. The first player he brought into the football club was Xhaka. Yeah. You need that. You need that player with experience. That character. That the players are going to listen to on the pitch. That's going to drag this young squad along with him. So that's what we need. And I'm sure Chabrian Lonzo has probably identified the experienced players that he's going to bring into the football club.

33:51John Obi Mikel:And it's also good to know that I've also listened that the model is going to change a bit. What the owners want to do. What the sporting directors want to do. Moving from bringing in young players to now going into a bit more of experienced players. Players at the age of 27, 28 years old. That have the experience. Played in the Premier League. Played in biggest leagues in the world. that are going to come in with experience and help this young squad because we do have some amazing, amazing talents in this squad. But it's about the consistency. And consistency comes with experience. Consistency comes with maturity, experience.

34:27John Obi Mikel:And you cannot buy that. You can only build that. And you need the experience and the young. You need that mixture. I've always said it. Every top manager does that. You can win the Premier League absolutely with experience. Mixture. You cannot win the Premier League. The most difficult league in the world, we've seen again this season, there's always ups and downs. There's always ups and downs. And to be able to manage those ups and downs, you need experience. You need experience on the pitch, in the dressing room. When things are not going well on the pitch, off the pitch in the dressing room, you have a leader that can be able to galvanize and keep those young players in check.

35:07John Obi Mikel:You absolutely need that. And that's something that I hope this summer, with Xabi Alonso coming in. I hope it works out really well for him because he's a fantastic young manager. He's a brilliant manager. I hope that it works out for him and Chelsea Football Club with this place. We don't want to keep chopping and changing managers. I hope we give him time. But at the same time, we all know that this business is a winning business. You have to win games to stay in this job. And if he comes in and he doesn't do it, I'm afraid it's a resolved business. I'm confident, to be fair. I'm confident. I'm confident.

35:43John Obi Mikel:What I saw, the game, the FA Cup final against City, I saw a lot of positive signs. I saw a lot of positive signs. Levi Cowell is pivotal to what we have to do next summer. Rich James on the pitch is pivotal to what we have to do next summer. Bring in few more experienced players. Bring in a top-top goalkeeper. That's what we need. A top-top striker that can score goals as well. Jao Pedro has done fantastic, but we need someone else. We need someone else. The club know we need someone. So I want to see your next season with this manager that we have to go on and build something special because I think he's a special manager and I think we have a special group of players, young players.

36:28John Obi Mikel:What we need is a bit of experience that can come in, help this young squad take us to the next level. To the next level. That's what we need. And I'm sure we can be able to achieve that. I want to say to anyone that's maybe new to the podcast, I would direct you towards the episode that we did with Victor Bonaface, who was with Xabi at Bayer Leverkusen. Really good insight. Victor breaks down what Xabi is like off the pitch, on the pitch. He's one of the players. He's really close to the players. He's tactile, tactically very astute. And he can show you how he's done on the pitch as well. He can still play.

37:03John Obi Mikel:He can still pass the ball. I mean, the way he pings it. I tell you what as well. you've said something interesting and I mean this with the greatest of respects to all of the managers that Blueco have gone for from Graham Potter to Poch to Enzo but respectfully there wasn't a clamour for those three it wasn't as if there was a line of clubs queuing up for those Xabi to me feels like an appointment it feels like a coup John it feels like yeah he could have done a job for a number of clubs and Chelsea have got him. And I just feel that that creates a bit of a buzz. Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah.

37:46John Obi Mikel:Listen, that was always who we were. We went, we went at always. Roman Abramovich went at always and got the best. Whoever's the best out there, he went and got it. You are the best. You're the top manager. That's who we want. So for us to do that now, it's a big statement from the owners, from the spotting director. No excuses, no. I'm also a well done to them. Because he is the most sought out manager right now. Yeah, I feel that. That's in the market. That's in the market. He is the most sought out manager. And his stock is still high. What he did with Bayern Leverkusen and then moving to Real Madrid.

38:25John Obi Mikel:Real Madrid is a different plush. We all know that. It takes only the same managers to be successful at Real Madrid. You lose one game, two games, oh, you are the worst manager. the whistle comes out, the white towel comes out, they want you out. Real Madrid is a totally different football club. That's why it's the most successful football club in the world. It's run by mafias. It's a mafia football club, and that's who they are. So, and when he went to Real Madrid, he had to deal with the egos at the football club, Mbappe, Bellingham, and all these guys, you know, who wants to be pampered, and, you know, that's who they are.

38:59And it didn't work out for him.

39:01John Obi Mikel:It didn't work out for him. and you cannot discredit that, what he did with Bayern Leverkusen and obviously what happened at Real Madrid because Real Madrid, again, like I said, it's a totally different ball game. But he did win games at Real Madrid, but to handle those plays is just so difficult and he found it difficult doing that. But make no mistake again, though, Chelsea is another top, top football club, you know, with maybe not same egos like we used to have back in the day. No, it's back to a Leverkusen type. Exactly. It's back to Leverkusen. Yes, exactly. Really talented young players that he can be able to get the best out of them.

39:42John Obi Mikel:You know, he can mold them and get the best out of them. Couple with few experienced players that he's going to bring in. So I just think, I see things working out well for him at Chelsea. I just see that, I see the appointment that's going to work out really well. It's going to be a shame if he doesn't. Because I hope he does. Because I think for Tabi Alonso, So this will be a massive statement if he can be able to get this to work. The club that has been in disarray for many years now, if he can come in and galvanize the whole place and bring some sort of stability, some sort of philosophy the way we want to play and bring calmness with the fans, the players and everything, that's what we need.

40:22John Obi Mikel:The negativity all outside the pitch, on the pitch, that needs to be quiet and that needs to go. And he can be able to do that and get the players playing well and get us winning games on the pitch. Everything else takes care of us. Yeah, that's true. You have to win games on the pitch. You have to be successful on the pitch. Does he have the players to do it? Yes. Does he have the quality to get the best out of these players as a manager? Yes. Can we win games? Yes. Can we compete next season in terms of winning the Premier League? Of course we do. We just need a few players, experienced players that are going to come in and going to help this young squad.

40:56John Obi Mikel:That's what I've been saying for years on this podcast. We have to do that to get back to who we are. We have to do that because, again, we can sing praises about Chabria Lones and all this. If you don't win games on the pitch, if you're not successful on the pitch, it doesn't matter who you are or what you do. The fans will call for you to go. So I hope and I believe that with disappointment is going to work out well for us. And I hope it's giving time. And I hope I see you start winning games and being successful again. Right, final question on Chelsea. Champions League football is a non-starter.

41:39John Obi Mikel:Yeah. Simply heading into this final weekend of the season, Liverpool, Bournemouth, even are too far ahead. So, and I know this makes a counterintuitive, but did Chelsea want to be in Europe next season? I think for the manager right now, I think for the club, it will be best if we don't make the... Champions League is gone, isn't it? It's gone. I think knock it on the head. I'm kind of with you. I actually think in the long term. Knock it on the head. Long term. Knock it on the head. And move on. Give him domestic football where he can have the time. On the pitch. On the pitch. Because the last thing we want is play Thursday and play Sunday.

42:17John Obi Mikel:That is horrible. I mean, no respect to the Europa League. And the Europa Conference League. And Europa Conference League. You've won them anyway. We've won them anyway. So, but for what we're trying to do right now, for where we are right now, in the mess that we find ourselves right now, the situation where we find ourselves right now, I think it's best we knock it on the head and just move on and say, you know what? It's best we're not in Europe this season. Give the manager the time on the pitch to be able to install his philosophy to this place, to be able to get the best out of this place.

42:47John Obi Mikel:Come on Wednesday and come on a Saturday, we're ready. We're ready to play. They understand what the manager wants them to do. because what we don't want is the distraction of the Europa League, of Europe right now. If you're not in the Champions League, I just think, just forget about it. And build. Use next season to build and make sure we get into the Champions League next season. And competing, not just to get in the... Competing to win in the Premier League. That's where we have to look at it. That's where we have to look at it. No excuses. No excuses. No excuses. because we've seen Arsenal do it.

43:25John Obi Mikel:I don't want in my lifetime to see Arsenal dominate the Premier League and we, Chelsea, we're struggling to make the Champions League. Fuck that. No chance. No chance. We have to get back to that. We have to get back to our DNA, who we are. And that's competing. Being there. Come the last two, three weeks of the season, we are there. Or Chelsea's mentioned, oh, we're second, we're 1.2 points behind. That's who we are. Competing. We're top of the league. We want to see that. We have the players to do that. We have the quality to do that. We just have to get our house in order. And that starts from the top.

44:04John Obi Mikel:That starts from the top. And I'm glad they've gone out now. They've made changes. They've gone to coach, to manager. Now they want to go to bring in some experienced players, which is what we've been crying for for so many years. And now they're listening, which is good. They're listening, which is good. And I want to see them continue to make changes because when you buy a football club, you have to be open to making changes. The only way you can be successful is by making changes, looking at what's not working and listening to the fans and making those changes. And I'm glad they've done that.

44:33Another player that we've got to touch on. I know this episode is probably going into uncharted territory. It might be the longest episode ever. I've got to get it because this fella is a friend of yours. And I don't know where I sit with this. Well, I do. I want to know what your thoughts are. Mo Salah, after Liverpool's 4-2 defeat on Friday to Aston Villa.

44:54John Obi Mikel:Yeah. He then gets onto his social media accounts. He doesn't speak often, Mo. No, he doesn't. But when he does, he has a right good whinge. Jesus, John. Yeah, he does. He's a worse whinger than Jose, I think. Sorry, Jose. But he hasn't named Arna Slott. But it's pretty obvious, by and large, who his diatribe was directed to. He's talked about the need to go back to heavy metal football. that's the DNA of Liverpool it always should be there should be no allowances made for anyone that wants to move away from that and then the other thing as well a number of players Andy Roberts and Dominic Solbush a lot of people liking that post as well the timing of it John is big farewell this weekend Liverpool still need a result to be guaranteed of Champions League football what do you make of it all?

45:43John Obi Mikel:Ah more, more, more, more Listen, absolutely lovely guy. Fantastic guy. A guy that I was, you know, I played with for a few years. And then, of course, listen, Mo Salah has had it tough. And to go on to achieve what is achieved in his career is absolutely monumental. It's fantastic. He's had it tough. You know, he was rejected by so many big clubs, especially us. and to go out there and find a way to push yourself, to get better, to say to yourself, you know what, I am going to make this. I am going to become one of the greatest players that's played in the Premier League. To have that mentality.

46:30Yeah, fair.

46:31John Obi Mikel:To have that desire to do that and be who he is today. Credit to the kid. Credit to him now. He's a man now. Credit to him. and I just think sometimes what has happened with him and Liverpool you have to understand I said it this season we all have to be careful the way we criticize this Liverpool side and I've I said it and I still stand by it and I've called for the manager to be given one more season not just what has happened on the pitch not just the way they've played this season but the tragedy that we know that happened I know I keep coming back to that. But a year is not enough to all of a sudden to forget about a player that is so up, well so loved by everybody in the team, the staff, the players.

47:26John Obi Mikel:A player that always came in the last 10, 15 minutes wins you a game, gets you a goal. A manager always looks back, Diego Jota. Comes in and does the business. I'm sure in that dressing room, his locker is maybe empty right now. I assume. And for you to walk in there every day, look at that. And with the emotion, with the feelings, and everything that happened, it will affect, it doesn't matter who you are. A player, we are human beings at the end of the day. A lot of those players were very, very close to him. Mo Salah in particular. He was, yeah. Very close. And I've said it here so many times.

48:15John Obi Mikel:I will be careful. And also, when you look at him now, some of the things he's doing, it's not like we say, he doesn't speak that much. I look at it and I think some of it is emotions. Oh, no doubt. It's the way he's feeling. Things that happen this season. Losing somebody that's very, very close to him. And then being dropped by the club, by the manager. and not saying anything to him, a player who's broken record, one of your best players in the squad, that will have a massive knock-on effect on him, mentally, emotional-wise. And when I look at Mo Salah this season, that's what I see. He looks, to me, a player who needs a hug.

49:03John Obi Mikel:He needs a hug. He needs love. That's what he needs. and he felt he hasn't gotten that from this Liverpool side. Not the managers, not the owners. Yeah, he said he was... There was something that is missing that he felt that he didn't get. He felt that he was... A player, he felt that he's been left out there to dry. He's been thrown out on the bus. Yeah, that's what he said. I can understand where he's coming from. Some of the things he's saying, again, like I said, I'm not really in support of it, but... You can see. I can see. where he's coming from. I can see the effect of what happened in the summer.

49:42John Obi Mikel:I can see all that bubbling up. And the explosion is what we see when he speaks. The emotion is what we see when he speaks. He's a lovely guy. He's a fantastic human being. I know Mo Salah really well. I was lucky enough to be close to him when he was at Chelsea. So that's what I see. The timing of his statement, again now. Maybe not the right one because the club is fighting to qualify for the Champions League. Maybe not. But again, he's a person that wants to see the club get back to being successful. You can argue that, yes. Winning. He's seeing where the club is going and he doesn't like that.

50:20John Obi Mikel:He doesn't feel that the club is going the right direction. Maybe with the manager or the style of play. He wants to see them get back to that. The heavy metal football that we know, Jürgen Klopp, loves to play. The fans absolutely love that way of playing football. They don't like the way Anasla is quite slow. Yes, they have the ball, they dominate the game, but it's very slow. And Mo Salah feels like that is not the Liverpool way. The fans feel like it's not the Liverpool way. So, everything he said, it's not bad. It's just not the right timing. But, he wants to see the club get back to winning.

50:57John Obi Mikel:He wants to see the club get back to winning titles and being competitive. So, for me, with Mo Salah, I will end this Liverpool side, I will be very careful. Again, very, very careful with the way we criticise them. And Anaslau has done well. He came in first season with what has happened. Jürgen Klopp leaving as well. That's another one. Jürgen Klopp leaving as well. Some of these players are his players. And he won the league. And he won the league. And then the Jota incident happened. And the Jota tragedy happened. So there's so many things that's going on in this Liverpool team. Give them this season, like I said.

51:34John Obi Mikel:Now it's done. Judge the man is the next season. Judge this player is next season. I think from next season, we can be able to say, this is where Anasla is. This is where these players are. That's when we can be able to judge them. But right now, I will be very careful in terms of how we judge them. I want an honest answer here. You're Anasla. You see that post from Mo Salah. Forget the emotion of it. Forget Mo Salah's frustrations. You're Anasla. You see that. Why do you want to forget about the emotions? I'm saying just Emotions in human beings Is so important We don't talk about it a lot Because we're men Because we can't just swallow emotions Some people are not very good at that Some people like to vent it out And they don't know how to vent it out in the right way And maybe Moshe doesn't Maybe he doesn't know how to He doesn't speak a lot As we all know But maybe now he finds out You know what?

52:28John Obi Mikel:I'm off anyways I know but But I know, I'm not anyways, it's not the right way. It's not the right way to go about it and say, you know what, I'm just gonna throw everyone on the bus and vent it this way. But again, like I said, I can understand some of his emotions and I believe that he's not happy. Look at Mo Salah, he's not happy. But there's no, the one thing I would say, at what point does he take, you talk about it a lot. Responsibility. Accountability and responsibility for his own performances. it's I'm being made a scapegoat and this club needs to be back playing heavy metal football I know you've been great you've been consistent week in week out where have you been this season to your point though the emotion of it but I want to come back to this question you don't have a slot what do you do on Sunday off the back of that statement and the timing of it do you say like you've said there a lot of emotions involved I'm going to start him he'll get his send off he's injured isn't he no is he back he's back do you leave him on the bench and bring him on for his little wave goodbye five minutes to go.

53:34John Obi Mikel:Or you don't bring him on at all? Or do you? Because again, John, you've been in these environments. I have not. Arnaud Slott has got a massive decision to make because fundamentally, whether you like it or not, Mo Salah has disrespected Arnaud Slott with that post, the timing of it and the wording of it. It's essentially saying Arnaud Slott is not in keeping with the Liverpool traditions. So Arnaud Slott now says, right, what do I do? do I start Mo and look weak to the players that ostensibly says it's acceptable for you to do that or does he say Mo not on my watch you've disrespected me got it my reply to this is what Mo Salah said is what every Liverpool fan is thinking they don't like the style of football no nobody likes it no Liverpool fan likes it they'd like it if they were winning perhaps.

54:28John Obi Mikel:Sorry? But even when they won the league last season, they didn't really like it because it was slow. It was, you know, yes, they had the position of the ball, but it was a little bit slow. But again, I'm saying, again, be careful of how we judge this team. Be careful how we criticize. But coming back to your question in terms of does he start him? Does he bring him on? Does he not play him at all? I think this is where the club, not the manager, the club make a stand. The club has to decide when it comes to that. The club has to decide. What he has given you for years, he's won them titles. He's absolutely won them titles, Chris.

55:07John Obi Mikel:He's scored goals. He's broken records, upon records there for Liverpool. This is where the club will have to override the manager and say, you know what? He's leaving and he's been a brilliant servant to this football club. What he's given to us, to this community, to these fans, to this football club, you have to bring him on. I don't care whether... You cannot leave him on the bench for the whole game. It's impossible. It doesn't matter what he said. You have to bring him on, whether you start him or you bring him on. He has to get his farewell. He has to get that right. He has to get whatever he has to get from the fans.

55:41John Obi Mikel:Has to. Because he's ended right. He's absolutely ended right. And some people sit there on TV and criticize... Again, I don't want to go into all this... No, no. Yeah, yeah. Calling them the Mosalefs. Yeah. Listen. Put your mouth where you... How do you call it?

56:06John Obi Mikel:Put your money where your mouth is, right? Yeah. I wondered where you go with that. Exactly. And Mosale did it. People, when they speak on the TV, did you achieve that? No. Did you? No. Don't speak. Don't speak. If it was to about role play, if that was Didier Drogba doing that and Jose Mourinho was the boss, you and I both know. He will get a phone call from Roman Abramovich. Who would? Jose? He will. Jose will get a phone call from Roman Abramovich. I promise you that. He will get a phone call from Roman Abramovich or from Marina Granozkaya. Yes, yes. When it comes to that, there's few things that owners can override the man.

56:45John Obi Mikel:There's few things that... Is this important? This is huge. A player who's served, Chris, players, we give everything. Now you look at it as, yes, he said what he said. Yes, he's a man. Yes, he's a guy. He has to deal with whatever's happened. He also has emotions. He has family. He has kids. He has a wife. He has all this. And he's an emotional guy. We all have emotions. Don't only look at it about the football. In some situation, you have to look beyond the game. You have to look beyond football. And I think this is a situation whereby the owners will pick up the phone and say, he's leaving.

57:31John Obi Mikel:Plays. He plays. I don't care whether you start him or not. He comes in and he gets his farewell, whatever you call it. He has to. Mo Salah has to. I think, has he dented a little bit of his farewell with the fans and everybody at the club? Maybe a little bit. but his voice that what he wants to say and what he wants to say it doesn't matter how you look at the whole what he said everything he said it's somebody that wants to see the club get back to winning ways it's somebody that loves the football club it's somebody that cares about the football club that can see that the football club is drifting away from what the identity is the culture of the football club he wants to see them return back to that playing the Liverpool way winning the Liverpool way competing the Liverpool way.

58:19John Obi Mikel:Because it doesn't matter what you think about Mo Salah right now. He's a scouser. He's a Liverpoolian, whatever you call it. He is. Because he will be adored. He's adored by those fans. And so he should. For years to come. He will walk back to that club in years to come and the fans will absolutely adore him. He's Mo Salah. You can put him in the same category now as Steven Gerrard and the rest of them. He's ended right. So, this is where the owners pick up the phone Arna Slott, he plays. Whether you start him or not, last 10 minutes, up to you. But, I think Morsal deserves to be on that stage.

58:59I tell you, this whole situation, I'll be staggered if Arna Slott makes it to Christmas. And with a bad result of the weekend, I still would not rule out a mutual...

59:10John Obi Mikel:A lot of people still think he's not going to be there next season. He's come out and said, I will be here next season. If Brentford go there on Sunday and turn them over. Turn them over. And the whole atmosphere Oh, the atmosphere, the negativity. The fans don't want him to stay anyways. So you're talking about Mo Salah saying something. Listen, a lot of times people think about stuff but the only people who get criticized is when you come out and you say what everyone is thinking and I feel that's what Mo Salah said. Is the timing of it okay? Maybe not. The timing of it is not right. I agree with you on that.

59:43John Obi Mikel:But that is how he feels and that's how that's what he wanted to say. But I can bet you 1 ,000%. What Mo Salah said is what every Liverpool fan is thinking. And I still don't believe that Anish Law, like you said, if Brentford go there and turn them over, the negativity, the atmosphere in the stadium, around the whole place, it's going to be a shit show. And I think that's when the fans start calling for him to be fired. But I still don't believe he's going to be there next season. He's come out and say, yes, I will be. but the club has not come out and confirmed it. So let's wait and see what happens.

1:00:19John Obi Mikel:Let's wait and see. And I think, I think Andoni Areola would be a really good fit. Oh, what is done with Beaumont? Oh my word. What is done with Beaumont? Apart from giving Arsenal the title yesterday.

1:00:34John Obi Mikel:Touché. Touché. Apart from giving Arsenal the title last night. He's done. But what a guy. What an absolute fantastic manager. I mean, to do that with the budget, what he has. Not losing one, two, three. Top plays. One went to PSG. The defender went to PSG. Real Madrid. Real Madrid. Center back. KK's Liverpool. Kepa, Arsenal. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Semenyo City. Oh, Semenyo City, yeah. Absolutely fantastic job he's done there. Absolutely. He can go. Listen, Mikel Ateta has won the Premier League. but I don't believe I don't believe he should be the manager of the season. I don't believe that. I think Arreola with what he's done Oliver Glasner what they are doing with the budget that they have the circumstances of of what they have the players that they've lost you know Oliver Glasner won the FA Cup last season now he's taking them to the Conference League final.

1:01:39John Obi Mikel:Incredible achievement. I mean, Areola's sixth. They've lost only seven games. They haven't lost in 17 games now. 17. They haven't lost. They have not lost a game. And you look at the team, the players. I don't even know their names. Unbelievable. But the way they're playing, I watched them last night. That's when you talk about a manager having a philosophy. Every player knows what to do. They want to play. It doesn't matter if they played against City yesterday. They were playing out from the back. They know exactly what they were doing. from the left-hand side, the combination that they have on that left-hand side was absolutely joy to watch.

1:02:14John Obi Mikel:And they played really, really well yesterday. City had their moment. City played well, but not good enough. I felt City didn't play well enough yesterday. Maybe obviously because of the situation, the announcement of Pep Guardiola and everything, the whole, you know, everything that happened, atmosphere. But Bournemouth, what they are doing, what Andoni Arriola has done this season, he deserves to walk into a massive, massive job next season. And I hope he does that. Yeah, watch this space. Maybe Liverpool, if this weekend goes wrong for Slott. Right, John. We started not celebrating the red half of North London.

1:02:51We didn't do that. We started by giving our props and our flowers to Arsenal. I want to finish.

1:02:56John Obi Mikel:They deserve it. Listen, they deserve it, Arsenal. But again, my thing is, he's built a brilliant squad. He's built a fantastic team. they've won the Premier League. Now they're in the Champions League finals. That is absolutely a huge success from Mikel Ateta and those players. Congratulations to them. They deserve it. You've done it. You just said it. They've done it. No, no, no. They've done it. They've done it. Congratulations. Shake hands. My dad always used to tell me, don't be a sore loser. When you lose, shake hands and move on. Tomorrow you go, you work harder to come back to beat the same person or whoever is going to stand on your way.

1:03:35John Obi Mikel:That's the way I look at life. and that's the way I look at this situation Arsenal has won as a Chelsea fan Chelsea this is the last thing I want to see Arsenal winning the Premier League but is this a one-off thing we know in the next 10 years we're not going to hear the end of this we walk around with our like fingers in the air for the next 10 years we're not going to hear the end of it oh we're not going to hear the end of it I promise you that I hope it's not a one-off thing. They can be, because they have this squad. They have this squad to be able to do that. But you can play this way and win once.

1:04:20John Obi Mikel:And I expect them to play this way again and go on to win the Premier League. And one thing I have to say before we finish this episode is

1:04:31John Obi Mikel:whoever is in charge of VAR, whoever is in charge of these situations they have to look at themselves yeah they have to look at the whole situation this season and look at it and and and and assess the whole situation assess what they've done as as everybody does right in your job end of the season you assess the whole situation and you look at your view and think what have we done right what have we done wrong how can we improve i don't want to sit and criticize and be so critical of what they've done. VAR is good. The VAR is good. But it is there to get situations, these decisions absolutely correct.

1:05:11John Obi Mikel:Because otherwise, why is it there? The reason why it's been brought into the game is to make sure these decisions are got absolutely correct. But so far this season, they absolutely bottled it. They absolutely failed getting the right decisions correct. because I can see so many decisions. Inconsistency. They say, oh, the force is not too high. Oh, it's not. They're pulling, they're dragging. The handball is... I don't understand, for the love of God, that you have a video right in front of you. And you're still. And you still get it absolutely wrong. Baffles me. absolutely baffles me. I don't understand.

1:06:02John Obi Mikel:When it's taking you five minutes to make a decision, they've come out and said, when it's clear and obvious. What is clear and obvious? It shouldn't take you five minutes. It shouldn't take you five minutes? That's not clear and obvious. That's not clear and obvious. No, it's not. It's like you're digging. When you're taking five minutes, it's like you're looking for. Where is that? Where is that? There it is. There it is. Then you get a phone call from somebody fucking, in Stockley Park, sitting in Manchester, where the game is played in London. And he calls the decision. Absolutely not correct, because this game, the Premier League, is huge.

1:06:45John Obi Mikel:The money involved in it, the emotions involved in it, everything that comes with the Premier League is huge. You cannot be getting those decisions wrong. Now, I'm not here to say that the league was handed to Arsenal or whatever, but that call against Western for years to come will be debated. Yeah, it will. Was it a foul? Yes. It's just the inconsistency. 100%. But not only that, John. The inconsistency is what kills me. The Gabriel. Because that has been happening. The Gabriel headband Haaland. The Gabriel headband Haaland. No red card. No red card. No three-match ban. That is what you have VAR to see.

1:07:26Even if he didn't, the impact was not there.

1:07:29John Obi Mikel:But the intent was there. You have a VAR that's going to look at it and say, hold on a minute, the intent was there. If that landed on Harlan's face, that's going to knock him out. That's a red card. The foul can have it. It's a red card. Stone core red card. Why do you get those decisions absolutely wrong at the critical, crucial time? Yeah. They have to look at it. Next season, the whole corner kick shenanigans, WWE, that's happening before the ball is kicked, has to be stopped. And it will. I think it will. Has to be stopped, Chris. They have to do something about it. Because otherwise, the game, they're ruining the game.

1:08:12John Obi Mikel:The game is going to be ruined. Because every other team is going to start doing that. You don't want to see Arsenal doing that next season. You don't want to see another team doing that next season. Because for me, it says in the rule, When you impede the goalkeeper coming out to do his job, it's a foul. And you can look through all the corner kicks, Arsenal. And not just Arsenal. Not just Arsenal. And the consistency. But most of it, Arsenal. Most of it is Arsenal. They started. They absolutely started it. But then everybody started doing it. They have to climb down it. They have to stop it.

1:08:50John Obi Mikel:That's what I have to say about it. Right, last one. Tottenham or West Ham? because that's the biggest battle now in the final day. Tottenham need a point at home to Everton. West Ham need to beat Leeds and hope that their former manager, David Moyes, and Everton win at Spurs. Final day, that's the one I'm watching. I'm watching those two, John. Who goes down? You mean Spurs and West Ham? Yeah. So Spurs play... Spurs at home to Everton. Yeah. West Ham at home to Leeds. West Ham need to win. anything but a win and Spurs stay in the division. West Ham win, they then have to hope that Tottenham lose at home to Everton.

1:09:33And you've got to go all the way back. And they're both playing at home. They're both at home. Last time Spurs won a game at home, Thomas Frank was manager. And that seems like a lifetime. When you put it that way,

1:09:45John Obi Mikel:it doesn't help, does it? No, it doesn't. Listen. What a season. Roberto Desabi has come in and he's done a fantastic job. I must say. Yes, they haven't won a lot of games. Two wins, two draws, two defeats. Yeah, but you can see there's something there. You can see the mentality, the way they played. Something has changed. Something has changed. And that's a positive sign. When you see something has changed, that's a positive sign. And watching the West Ham game and seeing the way they played against Newcastle, shocking. Absolutely shocking. You cannot go. You're fighting. You're struggling to stay in the league.

1:10:23John Obi Mikel:And you concede what? In the first, you concede two, three. Two in the first 20 minutes. In the first 20 minutes. Unbelievable. So you don't think. Unbelievable. Both teams right now, they need to find a way to win. They have to find a way to win. It's as simple as that. They have to win games. If I have to look, if I look at both teams, who do I see that has a little bit, there's something there. It's Spurs. There's something about Spurs that's looking like they might survive this. West Ham, look, they're all over the fucking place. They are all over the fucking place, West Ham. The game is in Arsenal.

1:11:00John Obi Mikel:Yes, they did come back. They played okay. But it just looks like Spurs will be the ones. I think they will get something against Everton, especially when they're playing at home. Last game of the season, the fans there, everybody screaming, shouting, pushing the plays. I just think Spurs might be the one. Leeds are not an easy team to play against. Very awkward team to play against. No guarantee West Ham. No guarantee West Ham, you know. So Leeds are a very, very difficult side to play against. They've done well now. They've escaped the relegation. They're safe. So, but they're not going to make it easy for West Ham.

1:11:38John Obi Mikel:They're not going to make it easy for West Ham. So, difficult, difficult to call. Difficult to call. Because, especially when it's the last game of the season, you know, you have the fans there. You have the family there. Everybody's there. Everybody wants to come on the pitch at the end of the... Emotions are going to be high. And knowing that your family is... Everybody's there. Your kids are there. They're waiting to come on the pitch. Are they going to come on the pitch celebrating? Or are they going to come on the pitch crying and thinking, wow, we're going to play in the championship next season?

1:12:07John Obi Mikel:The emotion that's going to be running high that day is going to be absolutely monumental. It's going to be huge. And then it comes down to who is able to... Who's very good in terms of dealing with emotions. Because it's going to be huge. It's going to be huge. The emotions, you have to deal with that. You have to try to perform. Knowing that this is the game that if you lose, you play championship next season. So, huge for both sides. Where's the time to go down Spurs to stay up? I think Spurs stay up. Okay. I think Spurs will beat everything given the fact that this season everything has gone the way of Arsenal I think Spurs are going to get relegated and it's going to be the greatest season in Arsenal's history right well they win the Premier League Spurs go down and Chelsea are all over the fucking place I mean they couldn't have scripted it any better you can't script that any better absolutely not right we're going to be back next week to review of course the final weekend of the season well done say it again to the team in red.

1:13:14But you're still butlers though. I don't think they are now, John. They've proved that they're not and they may well yet win.

1:13:21John Obi Mikel:No, hey, we enjoyed the banter. It was a good banter this season. You know, the Arsenal fans, they enjoyed it. Credit to them, celebrate, enjoy. And yeah, see you next season. See you next season. We're going to be back. Chelsea, we're going to be back. mate, I'll see you next week. Yep. Right, good. Right, that is it from us. Taking a Mikel, brought to you by Betwinner. It's been a long episode of this. Hope you enjoyed it. Good afternoon.