Nigeria midfielder, John Obi Mikel, continued his remarkable resurgence under interim Chelsea coach, Guus Hiddink, on Saturday in the 2-1 away win at Southampton in the Barclays Premier League.
The Super Eagle stared as the Blues came from behind to claim victory at St Mary’s after Shane Long thought he had given the Saints all three points.
Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas got the goals for the away side but it was the 28-year-old Nigerian who got all the plaudits for his outstanding contribution in the game.
Mikel racked up an unbelievable 96 percent pass accuracy – the most by any player in the game. He also went a step further by contributing two interceptions, two chances created and two clearances.
The victory means the former Lyn Oslo star is yet to taste defeat in two separate spells under Hiddink in the league. His only loss was in the UEFA Champions League away to Paris Saint-Germain.
“He’s the ideal player to bring balance to the team,” Hiddink said about Mikel in January.
He added: “If the team is not willing to do defend well or have the right balance then you concede a lot of goals. I thought John Obi can be one of the key figures in getting the balance back.
“He can cover the radar. He knows the game very well. He knows where the strength of the opponent is and he knows exactly how to cope with that. He has a good eye, a very good nose, and a very good sense of where to recover.”
Mikel has featured 21 times for the Blues this season scoring once.
