Super Eagles skipper, John Obi Mikel, has launched another extraordinary attack on former Chelsea coach, Jose Mourinho, for failing to believe in him while at the club.
Mourinho was axed as Blues boss in December after a dismal title defence which saw them lose nine out of 16 Barclays Premier League games.
Mikel, 28, became a bit-part player under the Portuguese who brought him to Stamford Bridge during his first stint at the club.
But since the exit of the former Real Madrid tactician, the Nigerian’s fortune at the club has changed – featuring 20 times and scoring once under interim boss Guus Hiddink.
And Mikel, who has had similar jibe aimed at Mourinho reveals that the manager never believed him notwithstanding all his efforts in training.
“I think confidence is everything, if a manager doesn’t believe in you, trust me there’s no way you can succeed,” the 28-year-old told Goal.
“Even if you do things right he would always make sure he finds fault.”
He continued: “People change in any walk of life, maybe he decided he wanted to do better in a different way and he didn’t need me anymore.
“He didn’t have the belief that he had in me before, which is fine because every manager has the player that they have trust in.
“It is a tough business, football, so when a manager comes in he wants to have people he believes in. If he doesn’t believe in you he doesn’t play you. And I think it’s all about a manager giving a player confidence.”
The former Lyn Oslo midfielder, who is currently on international duty with Nigeria, credits his new found form and confidence on new boss Hiddink who according to him reinstalled a sense of togetherness at Stamford Bridge.
“Hiddink came in, he spoke to me, he gave me the confidence and now I have played 20 games and we’re in the best position – where we haven’t been all season,” Mikel stated.
