Super Eagles skipper, Mikel Obi, insists there are no excuses for his current situation at Premier League leaders, Chelsea.
Mikel, 29, who is certainly approaching the twilight of his career at Stamford Bridge, is yet to make a single appearance this term for the Blues.
Many have pointed at his non-involvement in the club’s pre-season games as the major hindrance while others fingered his preference for the Rio Olympics to be the cause.
But Mikel, who has survived over seven managers at the club, is refusing to blame anyone for his inactivity under Antonio Conte and insists he has no regrets playing at the Olympics.
“I’m not a guy who makes excuses in life. I never make excuses. I never shy away from my responsibilities,” the Nigerian told BBC Sport on Friday.
“Yes, maybe people would say maybe I lost my place at Chelsea because I went to the Olympics, I didn’t have pre-season with the team, a new manager was coming in and was probably upset that I left for the Olympics, and probably thinks I don’t care about the team.
“But I don’t want to use those excuses; I want to keep training hard and make sure I change the manager’s mind. But if it doesn’t happen, then it doesn’t happen.
“I’ll keep doing my best and be ready for whenever I’m called upon. Let’s see what happens in January. I have to remain professional. I keep training and working hard, hoping that one day I’ll get to play.”
Mikel, who captained the Dream VI to bronze which coincidentally was Nigeria’s only medal at the last Olympics says his medal is a prized possession he will forever cherish.
“I wouldn’t trade my Olympic bronze for a place in the Chelsea team,” he said. “As a man, when you make a sacrifice, you have to deal with it, you have to face it like a man, you have to stand by your decision. You have to live with your decision because it’s your decision.
“I have no regrets at all, not one single regret for going to the Olympics and I’d not trade my medal for anything. I deserved it, I worked so hard for it, so why would I trade it for something else?”
Mikel, who joined Chelsea in 2006 from Lyn Oslo, is currently the club’s second longest-serving player behind skipper, John Terry.
The Blues no 12 has won every single title in club football including the UEFA Champions and Premier Leagues and says he has no regrets moving to Stamford Bridge.
“I’ve been part of the best years at the club, I’ve enjoyed the best part of the club,” he added.
“I was there when we won our first ever Champions League title. I played in the final and I was the man of the match in that final.
“I’ve written my name in the history books of Chelsea. I’ve won loads and loads of trophies, I’ve played close to 400 games for this club.
“I have no single regret, I’ve done it all. But as a player you’re still hungry, you still want to win more with the club. If that’s the way it ends (leaving in January) then that’s it. Players move on.
“In life you move on. I’m very relaxed about the January transfer window. I’ll speak to the club and we’ll find the best solution.”
