‘They don’t know the rules’: Mikel’s VAR & throw-ins rage, Chelsea backing & Okocha plea

24:47John Obi Mikel:Defends win you trophies. Strikers win you games. And when you have a top, top goalkeeper and when you're a top goalkeeper, and again, your defense is very well structured, they are solid. You have an 80 % chance of going on to winning a title. So, Manchester City have got that. And I think right now, the way they're defending, they've always defended well. And when you have to defend well, you need your midfielder as well to help you defend. And I think Eliott Anderson is giving them a little bit of that shield in the back four and the way he plays. And Enzo Fernandes as well is doing that. You need that to be able to get the back four to be solid.

25:25John Obi Mikel:And once you have those two midfield players sitting in front of those back four, I think you will be solid. And that's something right now we're looking at Chelsea, we do not have that. Yeah, Marguerite and Ruben Diaz magnificent and that's three clean sheets on the bounce Coventry, Porto and now United it's funny I'm glad you brought up Chelsea because if we were saying that City are a bit meh they're getting results but they're not entertaining we've got new entertainers in the Premier League because hey listen you leak like I said we don't want to be entertainers we want to be winning games you've become the new Arsenal scoring goals for fun John but you're leaking goals I mean Chelsea 2-2 a Hull conceding three midweek against Leeds in the League Cup albeit you won 6-3 the two against Arsenal last weekend as well cannot keep clean sheets and the two against Hull as well and then yeah Hull at the weekend yeah three against Fulham and you're conceding goals yeah we conceded yeah we conceded a lot of goals listen it's going to take time it's going to take time I think Xabi Alonso has got I think he's the right manager for this team I think he's the right manager for this club going forward I think he He has some really, really good ideas.

26:37John Obi Mikel:I can see what he's trying to do. It's going to take a bit of time. And we brought in a really, really good goalkeeper. He's a very experienced goalkeeper. Yes, there's been question marks with the goals that he's conceded. Albeit that we talk about our defense not being solid, which is right. We're not defending well at all. I think also we talk about our defense. But to defend well, you need, like I just mentioned with Manchester City, You need a holding player whose job is to be there and knows his job. My job is to be able to shield this back four. My job is to be able to break up plays. My job is to make sure that my back four is protected.

27:18John Obi Mikel:And so far, right now, Rhys James has been absolutely superb, covering for the likes of Moise Caicedo, who's out injured, and of course, Enzo Fernandez that we lost. Rhys James is not a midfield player. He's a right back, and that's why he's brilliant. Playing there, the right back, that's where we know that's his best position. But so far, he's done a good job, but that's not his position. Defensively-wise, when you're not playing the win, that is not your position. You have to be able to smell danger when you play in that position. You have to be able to know, to feel the danger. Where is it coming from?

27:50John Obi Mikel:You smell it, and straight away, you're there to make the tackle to break up plays. So far, we do not have that. We are missing Moise Caicedo. I said it from the start. When we get Moise Caicedo back, I think we'll be a much, much solid team. He is that guy that breaks up play. He's that guy that makes sure that our back four is well protected. Our back four is solid. We know what Moise Caicedo can give us. We know what he brings to the team. That energy that he brings, break up play, setting up plays, driving the ball forward. Just what Declan Rice is doing for Arsenal. That's what Moise Caicedo brings for us.

28:28John Obi Mikel:and he's been absolutely huge huge miss for us as soon as when he comes back i think we'll be a much much better team there's no question about that there's absolute question about it but again that is one position that the club has failed to strengthen during the transfer window we failed we knew we've talked about it we knew enzo fernandez wanted to leave the football club we knew for so long he wanted to go we knew he wanted to go yes we got 125 million sitting in now in the back but we fail to bring in another player another replacement and that's why we are suffering right now that's why we're suffering in that position because we talk about leaking goals we talk about conceding yes we can blame the defense but you need at least two holding players to be able to shield and protect that in that system yeah in that system you need that because you're going to be exposed the likes of cole palmer morgan rogers job they're not going the defenders much by the way we do not want them to track all the way back to defend because their job is to defend on the halfway line and when the ball gets to them they go out there and do what they do best create chances and score goals we don't want them to waste so much energy tracking their man all the way back because when they have the ball they need all the energy that they that they need to be able to go forward create chances and score goals so when we get kais moissado back with his energy that he has, with his stamina that he has, with his energy that he has to be able to cover two, three positions, breaking up plays, that is going to make us a much solid squad.

29:58John Obi Mikel:I can't wait for him to come back because he is that guy that shields and protects that back four. We absolutely need him. We need him to come back. Yes, we've lost Enzo Fernandez. But I think if Mois Cajsere comes back in the team, I think he's going to make us a much, much better team because we're considering so much, so many goals. It's incredible. We can't keep scoring four or five goals to be able to win games. We should be able to score two goals and win. And game over. And game over. The other thing as well, and you touched on this on our travels, it worried you at the time. This was after the Arsenal game.

30:29Yeah. It's come to pass against Hull. Another early goal that your boys score

30:34John Obi Mikel:Yeah. should set you up. Sit in now, pick them off, win twos and threes. But there's this issue right now. You're scoring early. You're not managing the game sufficiently enough. and teams are getting back into it. Is that a slight concern? Yeah, it is a huge concern because you talk about game management here. Because when you go 1-0 up, you have to be able to control the game. You have to be able to manage the game. And that comes with experience, doesn't it? It comes with experience. It comes with players knowing, having the know-how of controlling games. When I watch Arsenal playing out, they know how to control games.

31:08John Obi Mikel:They know how to manage games because they know once they go 1-0 up, they'll be able to keep that ball and try to control the game. Whether it's foul, they take a foul, they control the game. They break up plays because they know they're 1-0 up and they have to manage the game. That's something that we don't have. And that comes with experience as well. So we can talk as much as we want about going 1-0 up, 2-0 up. But if you don't control the game, if you don't manage games, it's useless. Because that's something we used to do back in the day. When we go 1-0 up, 2-0 up, we control the game. Jose would be shaking hands.

31:40John Obi Mikel:Exactly. We control the game. We manage the game. And that's something I don't see here. But again, it will come with time. I think once we continue to play, the more we play together, the chemistry is there, is getting there. The players are understanding each other. You have the big voice. You have the senior players talking to the younger players. Now we've gone 1-0 up. What do we do? Control the game. Whether it's throwing, kick the ball out there, squeeze the play and keep the pressure high up there and make sure we manage the game. That's something we have to deal with. Take a foul. Pull the man down.

32:12John Obi Mikel:whatever it is control the game and we don't do that it's like when we score go we let the ball we let the game keep going it's like a basketball game isn't it you don't let that happen once you go on the lap control the game take a foul take a silly foul take a yellow card and next time you don't make sure you don't take a foul your teammate takes a foul you have to spread all that thing it comes with experience and that's something over the years we mastered it we mastered it and when i see actually not play right now that's something they have the know-how because they've been there they've been together for so many years five, six years those players they are a team they are a team they know what to do when they go 1-0 up they absolutely know how to manage the game and that's something we don't know how to do right now Chelsea are a work in progress work in progress we are seeing we're seeing signs that something special might be coming up there is signs there again Spurs can't buy a goal haven't scored in four Man Utd couldn't score against Hull couldn't score against 10-man against Man City Liverpool Bradley Barcola in this team struggling to score against Fulham we touched on this very show.

33:11Morgan Rodgers against Hull, goal. João Pedro assist. Second goal, João Pedro goal. Is it JP Morgan? They call them right now. I think it is. Something like that, isn't it? That three, you said on this pod two weeks ago. Yeah. That's the best front three in the league.

33:25John Obi Mikel:It is the best front three in the league. They're going to score loads of goals. Lots of goals. Yeah. Lots of goals, assists. I think come the end of the season, probably name one or two front three that you will say that's better. I don't think there will be. I think if they're fit, If you keep them fit, all three of them playing, and they're fit, and they're playing, they're firing all cylinders, I think they will be the best front three in the league. There's no question about that. That's the three I'd pick. There's no question about that. Because the way they're playing, Morgan Rodgers has just come into the football club and is just slotting.

33:54John Obi Mikel:He's just slotting perfectly well. The way he's playing with Cole Palmer. Like I said, both of them look absolutely happy. There's nothing better than when you see your star player is happy, enjoying the way they play. Childhood friends, they grew up together. They know each other. and now they're playing in the highest league in the highest level together. You know, what a dream. What a dream as kids, as players. And you see them the other day arguing post-match about who's going to take the amount of the match. That's refreshing. You want to see that. Personality. Personality. You know, they know each other.

34:26John Obi Mikel:They're not upset with you saying, oh, you're better than me. No, they know each other. It's just a banter going on and I absolutely love seeing that. But I think the way they are playing all three of them, I think they were, Jao Pedro, wow, what a player, what a player. Coming short, running deep, running behind the defenders, coming short to link up plays. He's just been absolutely superb to watch. Brilliant. And those three, they complement each other really, really well. They're all similar kind of players, aren't they? But they know what to do at every little time. Because they're so clever, they're so smart.

34:55John Obi Mikel:When you have smart players, they can be similar. But when they're smart and they understand each other really, really well, they know exactly what to do. Who's coming short? Who's running deep? Who's coming to play the one-twos? Who's coming to the first post, second post? It's just superb towards them. It's refreshing. But again, they are scoring the goals. They're creating these chances. But we have to defend. We have to defend. Emi Martinez is a brilliant, brilliant goalkeeper. I think he'll come good for us. It will take a bit of time. I think he'll come good for us. Moise Kayser is the one we are missing in that midfield.

35:26John Obi Mikel:We are missing Moise Kayser. He is the guy that makes sure that our defense is solid. Absolutely solid. defense will win you titles your strikers will win you games but when you're midfield the midfield that's the place that is the position i play you have to be able to be disciplined you have to be able to smell the danger to know where the danger is coming from and moise kaisero is absolutely superb when it comes to that he smells the danger he knows where to cover who's out of position i need to cover this position i need to cover the energy that's something we don't see now because our midfield is wide open and when your midfield is open of course your defense is going to be exposed and that's what we've seen our defense is well well exposed yes we're scoring goals but we need to defend chaby alonzo knows that that the midfield is where we're having problems right now and as soon as we get moise caissero back in the team i don't know who he's going to play with but i just think moise caissero and lavia or riz james for me that's a solid solid two midfields.

36:25John Obi Mikel:Yeah, I agree. And that two are going to protect. They will absolutely protect our back four. Let Morgan Rodgers, let Cole Palmer, let Jao Pedro go out there, create chances, play freely, shackles off. Don't worry about defending. Create the chances that we need because they will score goals. They will create chances. It's all about what we do in our defense. And I'm sure we'll get it right. Chapelle Alonso is going to get it right. I believe he's going to get it right. The season has just started. Four games into the season. They'll be fine. We know where the problem is coming from. we've all identified where the problem is coming from we have to fix it and I think Mois Keisler is that guy the other team that we need to discuss well there's a couple but praise and credit where credit's due we spoke off this podcast all last week we spent a bit of time together you were very complimentary of Arsenal on their victory over Chelsea at the weekend they go to the Stadium of Light we know it's a big atmosphere it's a full house they rode their luck a little bit penalty great save from David Raya but now John by my reckoning that's three away games.

37:25They went to Asta Villa, clean sheet, little moment of magic.

37:28John Obi Mikel:Yeah. Midweek, we were on the flight back from Porto, little moment of magic, Martin Odegaard, 1-0 away at Napoli. They go to the Stadium of Light. Okay. Penalty. Could have changed the game. Difficult game, yeah. That's saved. They win 2-0. Three clean sheets, John. There's a solidity about them. There is a solidity in that. Listen, we've all said it. When you look at the whole squad in the Premier League right now, the regional team that is well equipped the regional team that has the depth the regional team that has the squad that arsenal have very well robust team physically strong powerful whichever way you want to play you want to play pretty they can play good right this season i've seen so far this season what i've seen in the last four games that they've played better it's been better compared to last season the way they finished the season you can see what they got is back to his best.

38:23John Obi Mikel:He's playing. He's creating chances. He's getting on the ball. He's trying to make things happen. Shackles off. He's playing more free. Saka looks sharp. He looks fit. He's creating chances. He's trying to be the Saka that we know. Playing with freedom. Shackles off. He's enjoying himself. He's playing with freedom. He's playing with a smile on his face. Declan Rice back again with energy, full of energy. He looks sharp again. He's well rested after the World Cup. He looks fit. And of course, when they go and they again strengthen with Bruno Gimenez, again, another brilliant, an absolutely super player so michael ateta knows what has given him success what has given him success is their solidity their defense the way they've played it doesn't matter which way you want to play against this arsenal side they can come up against you and they will beat you whichever way you want to play pretty football dirty football physical they are well equipped for everything they are well equipped for everything i think they are well equipped to go on and defend this title there's no question about that will they run away with it that's what i don't believe because i believe that the rest of the teams are going to get better as the season progresses the rest of the teams are going to get better you're looking at now that the transfer window is ended has closed everybody knows what they're working with and i just think it's teams when you look at teams there's just a little little tweak here and there and there will be better better teams and i just believe that as soon as the season progresses i don't think arsenal will run away with it will they win the title we've said that i believe that they will go on to do something that they've never ever done before, which is defend the title.

39:51John Obi Mikel:They've never defended the title before. I think they're well-equipped, very well physical, strong enough to be able to do that. They're the best team right now in the Premier League, well-equipped, the depth that they have, they have two, three good players in every position. I look at the bench that they have, you know, you look at Eze as well, he's not getting minutes. Eze's not getting minutes. You look at Madweka on the bench. Goikeres. Goikeres on the bench. And you look at players that... Gimares. as well, players that can come in. Salih was injured. Moreno as well, players that can come in and win them games.

40:23John Obi Mikel:Zubamendi. Zubamendi. So for me, they are the best squad right now in the Premier League. There is no question about that. And so far, the way they've started the season, credit to Mikel Ateta. He knows that last season, it was about getting over the line. And they've done that. Now it's about changing the system, playing much, much better football that the fans want to come and watch week in, week out. You have the players to do that. Martin Odega looks for me like a new signing. He looks fresh. He looks sharp. He's creating chances. He's scoring goals. He's back to his best. Saka looks like he's back to his best as well.

40:57John Obi Mikel:He looks like he has something to prove. And this team, right now, they are the best team in the league. There's no question about that. And they are the most settled team. Looking at all the other teams that you can say will challenge them. There's been changes. There's been new faces. faces you know into the team whether it's chelsea there's new manager there's that there's new players coming in manchester city the same thing pep guardiola live in the football club liverpool and then you're real coming new changes and everything so there's so much but when you watch arsenal when you see them now they have the know-how now they're going into every game knowing like i said when they go one nil up they know how to manage the game they know how to take the things out of the game.

41:43John Obi Mikel:Control the game. Manage the game. Manage the results. Get a 1-0, 2-1 up. That's all they have to do to win games. But they are also expressing themselves. They're playing well. They're scoring goals. And they're defending well. For me, they look unbeatable right now. I don't think they will run away with the league. But I think they will win it. They are the team to beat. There's no question about that. And credit to them. They're playing well right now. They're scoring goals. They're doing everything right. I think Mikel Ateta has built a winning machine. He's built a squad that knows how to compete in the Premier League.

42:17John Obi Mikel:And of course, he has the squad to be able to also compete in the Champions League as well. Because let's not forget, they have not won an European title. They have not won the Champions League. They have to defend. Together. They have to defend the Premier League. And of course, they want to have a good run in the Champions League. They were in the final last year. They will want to go on to winning. do they have this squad to do it in Europe you have the likes of Barcelona PSG they're going to be there Bayern Munich so they have a very very huge competition in the Champions League but in the Premier League I think they're the team to beat and to underline the point that you raised there about their strength and depth Bruno Guimaraes stepping off the bench his first goal for the club great start let's not forget you know Saliba is not playing but what did he do he went out he put on the top top centre back Konsa that just shows you that a manager that straight away recognizes, hold on a minute, what has absolutely given me success so far?

43:17John Obi Mikel:The defense. The defense. There's no question about that. When my defense is solid, when my defense is absolutely solid, that's what wins me titles. And Mikel Ateta straight away went out there knowing that Saliba is going to be out for a while. What does he do? He went out there. He splashed 60, 70 million. He brought it on another top, top center back. He's got the best, we talked about it, he's got the best eight, we talked best fours. And who is the best four? Incredible. Chelsea's of 0-4, 0-5. United of 0-8, 0-9. There's loads of examples. The invincible Arsenal back line. But Arsenal have changed that.

43:52They've now got eight. Ben White and Jurian Timber at left back. Ben White can play there. Hincapia, Calafiore at left back. And then you've got Saliba, Gabriel, Consa, Muscela. Incredible. And then Lewis Skelly can play left back.

44:03John Obi Mikel:And you're not talking about just any defenders though. You're talking about top, top defenders. Absolutely top, top defenders. All eight. Exactly. That's what I'm talking about. But when you look at our defense. Yeah, good point. You'd probably take the sub four at Arsenal. You're right. Exactly. So, I like a couple of defenses we have. But are they the defense? When you look at it, are they the defense that will win you titles, though? Are they our center backs? Are they the guys that will win you center backs, though? Levi Conwell, I think he is, for me, he's the one with the potential. To kick on.

44:39John Obi Mikel:To kick on and be a top, top centre-back. Le Croix. Le Croix. Yes. Is he a top, top centre-back? No. Is he going to come in and make us a bit better? Yes. But is he a top, top centre-back? There's a question mark there. But the one with the potential, I'll say Levi Cowell. And Achim Mbappé. And Achim Mbappé. I think he's good. He's young. I think he will be absolutely superfluous. Fofana hasn't hit the highs again that we know that he can be. So there's always question marks. And when you have your two right backs playing as two midfield players, as far as Gusto and Rhys James, there is something there.

45:16John Obi Mikel:There's a problem in our teams. Of course, there's no question about it. We know that. When you have Gusto coming in and playing as a midfield player, and when you have Rhys James as well playing as a midfield player, that's not their positions. No, it's not. That's not their positions. As much as I've given the sporting directors, the club, so much credit in selling the plays or floating the bombs. squad that we don't need they have absolutely it they're absolutely failed in bringing is threatening that midfield that we absolutely needed no angel especially when you knew the whole summer this guy has been making noises that he wants to leave yeah let's just get people lined up you have your one two three four options but we didn't have that it's like we had just one option i know it was the last absolute last minute but still you should have had something else lined up if you can smell there's something something fishy there that it might or might not happen this player from Monaco might come or might not you should have one two three options and we failed to do that so for me they absolutely bottled it there I think in terms of bringing in strengthening our midfield and that's why we are absolutely suffering I can't wait for the January transfer window to open because you know we have to be the first one knocking on the fucking door I don't know whichever club it is whoever it is it's Andrew Midfielder we have to We have to.

46:38John Obi Mikel:But again, every club know that right now we're desperate. Instead of getting a player for 40 million, you're going to get him for fucking 80 million because they know we're desperate of strengthening that position. But it doesn't matter. We have to strengthen that position. If we can be able to be there, just around there, come, just keep winning. What I should draw, win. Just be around there, top four, top two, top three. You will be. Come January, and then we can be able to bring one or two midfield players. then we can kick on from January and see where we go. I think that's probably what the club have to do.

47:12Right, I'm going to ask you a question. I'm popping you on the spot here, John. If we talk about Arsenal being the ones to beat, they've got the balance. They're keeping clean sheets. They're scoring goals. Chelsea, scoring bagfuls of goals, conceding too many. On the flip side, Spurs, keeping clean sheets but not scoring. What's easier to do? If you were a football coach, get your team to be a little bit more defensively solid or getting your team to score goals. The old saying is the hardest thing to do in football is put the ball in the back of the net. So, with that said,

47:43John Obi Mikel:you're happier with Chelsea. I'm happy with what we're doing. I'm happy with the signs that I'm seeing. If we're not scoring goals then I'll be worried. I will be absolutely worried because that is absolutely the most difficult thing to do is to pull the ball in the back of the net. And Chelsea are doing that for fun. And we're doing that for fun. But I think when it comes to defending I think that is something you can absolutely teach. You can coach. You can teach the players on how to defend. Scoring goals is something that comes natural and you have to find the chemistry between your front three to be able to do that.

48:16John Obi Mikel:And when you look at Spurs right now, that's what's happening right now with Spurs. They do everything from the goalkeeper to the midfield, but once they get to the final third, it's like they run out of ideas. They have absolutely no idea to do. They have zero idea what to do. You're looking at Mamouche and Solanke and Savio, whatever his name wants to be called right now. Savio. Savio. They look like they have no idea what to do once again in the final third. And that's the position where you need the calmness, you need the chemistry, you need the partnership, you need the understanding between your front three.

48:52John Obi Mikel:Who's coming short to link up play? Who's running behind the defenders? Who's coming in front post, second post? All this is what you need. this will come by chemistry by players understanding each other and the managers while trying to bring out the best out of his place out of his core do spurs have very good players there's no question about that will they be fine in the league there's no question about that the problem is he needs to find that formula what is it that's going to get this team to be able to start scoring goals like i said they do everything absolutely right from the goalkeeper the defense the midfield but what's that ball gets to the final third i'm looking at my moosh he has no idea what he's doing because the chemistry is not there takes time right savio is running past people but he doesn't know what to do once he gets it so you can see that they're forcing everything they're in a hurry the nerves is there the pressure is that they can feel the tension from the fans but that's where you need cool heads you don't need to force every situation they fall they're pushing they're pushing the issue they're forcing it and the more you do that the more it doesn't come they need to relax they need to play with each other they need to understand each other they need to understand the chemistry the partnership so long can you to understand mamouche's movement he wants to come short he wants to run deep and mamouche as well trying to shoot from 40 yards and everything he needs to pass the ball he needs to absolutely pass the fucking ball so for me there's so much that this purse you can get out of this first team there's so much that you can see that will happen it is there they have the players they have so many good players but deserving is to find what will make this team to start winning games they have to start picking up points absolutely need to start picking up points because the last thing they want is to be in the situation that they are last season.

50:44John Obi Mikel:That's the last thing they want and the season before that. They have the players right now to be absolutely fine in this league. And I believe that they will get that right. They will get that. You cannot have Tonali, Fernandez, Mamouche, Savio, Teo as well in this squad, Madison as well, Kudos as well is back. You cannot have all those players as your front players and you're not scoring goals. There's something absolutely wrong. I just believe that the manager needs to find a way of getting those players to understand each other. Like I said, who's coming short to link up play? Who's going to first post, second post?

51:21John Obi Mikel:When that cross is coming, who's... Those are something that comes naturally. And right now, it's not coming naturally because they're trying to force the whole issue. And once you... The more you do that, the more it doesn't come. So he has a massive, massive job on his hands. Aston Villa, the visitors to the Tottenham Holtz-Port Stadium this weekend as well. Two teams without a victory. Yeah. And I can't help but think the more and I'm talking the next few weeks the international break up coming Spurs need to get a win quickly or Roberto De Serbi will come under enormous pressure I don't think he's going to be under pressure I think they have the best manager to be able to get him out of that situation I think he's a really really good coach you can see what he's trying to do you can see the system what he's trying to create at that football club yes the club have got to impact him they brought him some absolutely superb plays and I just think it's a matter of time before they start scoring goals I believe they will be fine.

52:12John Obi Mikel:And I believe De Zerbe is the manager to be able to get them to start scoring goals and winning games. Otherwise, who's the manager you go out there and bring? Pep Guardiola? Eddie Howe. Eddie Howe. I feel like I'm Eddie Howe's agent. Eddie Howe. But yeah, but I think De Zerbe, for me, I like De Zerbe. I think he's a brilliant manager. Just to find the right system that works, I think. The right players for the right system. The players who's going to start, who's going to come off the bench. who is the right player for every situation. That's what you need to know as a manager. And that's what Mikel Eteta knows right now.

52:46John Obi Mikel:If you see him making decisions on bringing in players or who starts and who's on the bench, who comes off the bench, he absolutely knows it to the T. He knows every single place. And that takes time. That takes when you've been at the football club for a very, very long time, that chemistry, you build it with the players, you know your players in and out, and you know what works for them. Mikel Ateta has that with his Arsenal side. So when you look at all these managers that are coming to the Premier League, it will take time for them to know their players. It will take time to know what gets the best out of their players.

53:17John Obi Mikel:And De Zerbe is taking his time. I think he will come good. I think Spurs will come good. I think they will be just fine in this league. I don't think they will be in the situation that they are last season or season before that. Once they get one win, once they'll be able to find that system, I think they will be fine. It's just about finding the right system because they have the place. They have some really, really good players. Pedro Pora as well. It's another player, you know, who didn't play at the weekend. So they have some brilliant players. So I wouldn't be worried for Spurs. I think they will be just fine this season.

53:47Spurs fans, you've been told, do not panic. I don't know if that's you trolling Spurs fans or not, John, but the message from you is don't panic. No, don't panic.

53:55John Obi Mikel:Don't panic, Spurs fans. I do want to ask you because we've had loads of messages on DMs from Instagram, on X, on YouTube. I think you know where I'm going with this final one. Where are you going with that? the Nigerian Football Federation the well there's an investigation FIFA have come kiboshing in I believe the CAF as well the Confederation of African Football are looking in on the governance of football in Nigeria you've said it from day dot on this podcast so I'm going to ask you outright have you had a phone call John? has anyone said John you need to run for presidency sort this nonsense out listen I have so many DMs on my phone but listen this is something that i've i'm not saying i've been campaigning for because that's you call for change i call for change because i know and i see where our football is going because our football the nigerian football nigeria not just football sports is declining absolutely declining it's getting worse and worse and when i know that i have the voice to be able to say what i have to say which is what is right and how do we fix our football how do we get our football back to where it belongs how do we start winning again how do we start competing qualifying for the world cup the nation's cup that is something that i feel i have the responsibility to do to call out what is not right and this has been going on for forever during my playing days during the playing days of jejo culture it's been going on forever and so and i just feel like no one has been able to be able to call out those corruption and what the things that has been happening the mismanagement of everything that the funds that is mismanaging and people coming into the into the federation for the wrong reasons thinking this is where i can make money this is where i can fill my pockets with money that doesn't belong to you the money that's supposed to go to developing the football putting money to the academies putting money to the youth sports football basketball volleyball whatever it is you know you know you know you know you talk about disabled football and whatever it is sports those money are coming there making sure that the money goes to the right people not just football with a strategy and a plan with a strategy and a plan as well you have to have a vision you have to have a plan you have to put a plan there and i've talked about it twice now that we have not qualified for the world cup for us to be able to qualify again for the world cup we have to put things in the you know in order and that's by having a plan if we don't do that again we're not going to qualify for the world cup because you're looking at all the african teams they're growing they're developing they're getting stronger and stronger it's not like where you just go and it's like a walk in the park no it doesn't work like that you have to have a strategy you have to put things right and right now i'm so happy that the things that i've been calling for that the nff the people that are running the football club for the past four or five years had to go i'm so happy that what i've been talking about what i've been calling for has finally happened it has happened that the president has resigned the people and i not just the president i want to see his cabinet and they're all still there all gone they're all still there sniffing around trying to make sure that they become the president no we want fresh new ideas Revolution.

57:12John Obi Mikel:Revolution. People with fresh ideas. The company that can go walk into companies, private companies, and say, you know what? We're the Nigerian Football Federation. We want you to partner with us. Because they will listen to you. Because it's a fresh, new idea. Transparency. Transparency is there. This is our books. This is what we can do. This is where that money is going to go. This money is going to go. Let's work together. Let's partner together. And you can see that the money is going to the right places. We're developing football. we're making the football in nigeria better basketball whatever it is we're making sure that the youth are participating in sports getting people off the street to stop committing crimes and everything because if you stop doing that if you stop putting money to the academies to the youth they have no place to go what is that what is there for them to do go on the street and start committing crimes no that's not what we want if you create a nice environment for them to come go to school come back from school go to sports play sports football basketball volleyball handball whatever it is i can get them off the street to be able to have purpose in life this is what i want to do am i good in football no am i good at handball am i good in basketball i have something to fall back on you know what i mean you said handballs handball big in nigeria it doesn't matter though but if you play that you have something that can get you off the street that's it doesn't matter it doesn't matter the sport sport is what brings people together sports is what takes the youth out of the street if you don't have that chris what is there what is there for them to fall back to absolutely and i'm reading here as well exactly so for me the monies have to go to we need the right people to come back to the game fresh ideas young brilliant people with vision with the right ideas whether it's the ex-football players whether it's not the ex-football players i want people that has the right passion they that has the right idea for nigerian football that the money will go to the right places we can see that nigerian football is developing that we can build our own facilities we can have our own training page we can have our own hotel or training camp where we go it doesn't have to be a five star it doesn't have to be whatever it is build something where we where when we come to camp when the players come to come they know this is a nigerian football federation camp where we can train where we can absolutely be safe is the right conducive environment for us to perform we don't have all that staying in a hotel is not also good because you have people from different places you know what i mean the players need to concentrate on football when you stay in a hotel there's so many distractions you don't want me to tell you what that is there's so many distractions oh yeah so the players need to focus when you have the right facilities.

1:00:02John Obi Mikel:They know this. I'm here for the next two or three days to concentrate and play football. To give my all for the national team. To produce a performance. To produce a performance. So this is what I need. And I'm calling on all the ex-Nigerian football players. Don't talk behind. Don't talk about the Nigerian football needs to change. Don't pretend. Come out. I've done the fucking job for you guys I've spoken I've been that voice that you needed to call out the corruption to call out people that are not doing things right now is their time yeah the people that paved the way for me growing up the likes of JJ culture canu they have to come out now and say and say I want to be the guy who takes nigerian football going forward they have to put their name on the hat they have to come out and campaign and say i want to take this country i want to take nigerian football to the next level because i believe they can do it i believe that the right people to do it support them i will support them but again it doesn't have to be them but i what i want is fresh new ideas i know the people there they're old ideas the people i know they're not there for the right reasons i know them all the the the people like i said not just the president resigning i want the whole fucking cabinet gone start offresh start offresh clean out let them all go let them all go but it's not gonna happen i know now i can hear rumors people who were president four five eight years ago ten years ago they want to fucking come back to the what is it with the nigeria football federation that they cannot let go because of the money chris it's because of the money that they're embezzling it's because of the corruption that they know what they get from it they cannot let it go you've been the president for the past eight years ten years you've had your time you've stolen all the money that you you wanted to steal why do you still want to put your name in the fucking running i want more she wants more they want more they cannot let the power go they cannot let the corruption that the what the opportunities what they get from it they cannot let it go it's funny it's more it's not funny but i've got this one of the issues that has been raised is the use of 12 billion naira which was allocated by the federal government back in 2024 to settle money owed to players as well as bonuses that was accumulated over a 15 month period i can tell you the economic and financial crimes commission as well as an independent corruption practices and other related offenses commission are investigating that very matter 12 billion naira that has not gone to where it should have it's incredible it's incredible it's not the first time it's happened chris it's been happening for years but again it tells you and i it's not like i'm so i'm not talking bullshit every time i call them out i know exactly what i'm talking about i've been there i've played i've served my country from the age of 16, under 17, 20, 23 national team.

1:03:19John Obi Mikel:I played the whole fucking category. I've served this country. I don't know how many players you can call out and say, let's play the under 17, the under 20, the under 23 and the Super Eagles. And the Olympics. And everything. I've done it. I've seen the in and out. I've begged for my money. I've begged for my bonuses. I've begged for things to be done right when I was playing. I've asked for it. And have been denied. And for me and the sport, not just me. I know the system, Chris. That's why when I'm calling them out, I know exactly what I'm talking about. I know exactly what I'm talking about.

1:03:55John Obi Mikel:And the corruption has been there for years. And that's what I'm saying. Those people are still there sniffing around. Sniffing around. Like, what do you keep sniffing around for? You've been there 12, you've done it 12 years ago, 8 years ago, 10 years ago. Let it go. let it go let us have fresh ideas young ambitious people that have the right ideas for nigerian football for nigerian sport to take this to take us forward and again i know the government the government have to get involved i know they say governments don't get involved in the government have to get involved because we are getting worse is we are declining we're getting worse and worse.

1:04:37John Obi Mikel:A country that is so absolutely fucking blessed with so many talents, football, basketball, athletics. It's incredible that we're not, you know, you talk about the women's football again, we failed to whatever qualified for the, I think. Yeah. The shambles that went on there, those girls, I feel so sorry for them because they leave, They should have school or jobs or whatever to come back and play for the national team. And they get absolutely shit on. That's what they do. You know, female that come to play football represent the national team, represent their country. And you have these men sitting there diverting money, diverting kids, football boots, Jaysies that belongs to the girls, to the ladies, to the national team.

1:05:28they take it all from from nike and they go and they sell them off no it's incredible how can you

1:05:36John Obi Mikel:be successful that way how can you be successful it's incredible you're successful in spite of all of that exactly it's not because of them you're successful in spite because the players come and the sacrifice i'm telling you the sacrifice that we we've done for this national team and sometimes I know the fans understand it. I know the fans see it. But to play under sometimes some circumstances that we play under is just absolutely incredible. But it's what you do for your nation. It's what you do to represent your country. What you do to play for the badge, the national anthem, once it's playing.

1:06:10John Obi Mikel:You have to respect it because that's your country. That's where you're from. You have to play no matter what. And you have these people sitting on your money, sitting on the money allocated to the Nigerian football Put the money in the right places. Build a stadium. Build the training facilities. No, they don't do it. They get partnership money from whatever, Nike partners from... And that money, you don't see it. You don't see it. The players don't see it. But the youth coaches don't see it. It's not filtering in to facilities. It's incredible. You know, you talk about the Nigerian League. They're playing in artificial pitches.

1:06:47John Obi Mikel:We don't have good pitches where they can play football, where Nigerian football can grow. you talk about nigerian football that i know for years when i was growing up i used to know i used to watch for fuck's sake i was a ball boy i was a ball boy in nigerian football in my city where i grew up it's we're talking about it's still nothing has changed it's still the same still the same people trying to run the game it's still the same corruption going on same issues everything is the same same issue and it's incredible because i just want to see our country back to where we belong there is it's gonna be again a huge huge disaster for the third time in a row we do not qualify for the world cup i saw one of the officials come out and say oh we talk about not qualifying for the world cup twice in a row he made a reference he said italy didn't qualify for the exams is he fucking having is he off his fucking head i cannot be who you can put that cannot exactly going for that's somebody who wants to succeed that's somebody who's ambitious right making excuses that's making excuses for your own fucking fuck-ups yeah yeah so you cannot tell me these people and that's somebody who's coming to make excuses for why they've been absolutely shit in their job and his excuse was look at egypt uh look at italy they haven't qualified for the third time in a row and we are complaining honestly when i had him said that done that's it you're done it doesn't matter what your job is you're fired that cannot be your excuse that cannot be you cannot come in live tv national tv and make that excuse no chance but it just shows you who we are and where we're going so for me again i'm coming on the right people whoever it is you know you have the right idea you're fresh you're young you have a right vision for nigerian football going forward come out there and you'll support it i will support it if you have the right vision yeah okay if you show me you have the right vision you have nigerian football in your heart and you want to see it do well you're not there for the wrong reasons which is embezzling the money stealing the money that comes from fifa from all the partnership the brand partnership whatever it is i will support you i will support you because i want to see our football going forward we have an incredible team we have some incredible talents growing a young place we have incredible team but for us to not be doing well something is absolutely wrong right absolutely wrong powerpoint presentations into this man's dms if you've got any idea or have you got any ambition to be NFF president.

1:09:33Right, conscious of time, John. I want to mark all of your cards. We have got an incredible exclusive interview dropping on the Obi-Wan podcast made possible by Betwinner a week today. We're filming this podcast on Monday. So that will be Monday, the 21st of September. The floor is yours, John. This is an exclusive to end all exclusives. We've been in conversation with whom?

1:09:58John Obi Mikel:Well, we've been in conversation with the man, A coach that absolutely helped me During my time at Chelsea A man that I know really, really well Got to be my coach At the football club First of all, started as an analyst And then worked his way up To become a manager, to become a coach And of course, now he's worked his way up I mean, the guy's got levels, doesn't he? He keeps raising the bar He doesn't age Yeah, and he doesn't age Of course, we've been in conversation We travel to Portugal and we saw the one and only Andres Villa's boss. The president of Porto right now. Incredible team. A team with culture.

1:10:38John Obi Mikel:A team that is full of trophy cabinets and he just keeps adding trophy and trophy to that football club. Won trophies as a manager and now he's gone back and he's won trophy as a president as well. And I just hope he stays there for a very long time. He's got ambition for the football club. That's the president for you, isn't it? you cannot miss this if you want to know how a football club is run if you want to know how a football club should be managed you have to watch this interview incredible insight and of course his time at Chelsea his time at Spurs and it's just an incredible interview and this is dropping next so yeah tune in and watch that a few bombshells that are going to be making worldwide headlines I'm sure as well not to over egg it but he was loose lit and very candid with us it's fair to say so that is September 21st our exclusive on the Obi-Wan podcast made possible by bet winner with the one and only Andre Villas-Boas yes right John go and take a little lie down after that impassioned plea to get NFF assorted we'll be back to do taking the Mikel all over again sometime soon until then t 'en off for now