Mikel Obi Discloses Reactions When He Predicted Chelsea Would Win Club World Cup: “I Was Laughed at”
- Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has disclosed the reaction of fellow pundits after one of his recent mtach predictions
- Obi predicted that his former club would go all the way and win the first edition of the FIFA tournament in the USA
- The former Super Eagles captain had discussed the impact the title would have on the team's confidence this season
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John Obi Mikel has disclosed the reaction of his fellow pundits when he predicted that his former club would go all the way to win the FIFA Club World Cup.
FIFA hosted the first of the expanded tournament in the United States from June 14 to July 13, and it featured continental champions from past years.
Source: Getty Images
The Blues shook off a group stage loss to Flamengo and went all the way to the final, beating UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the final, becoming the first winners, as noted by FIFA.
Mikel shares the reaction to his prediction
The Chelsea legend worked with DAZN, which was the sole broadcaster, as a pundit, during which he spoke more about his former club.
He noted that he predicted that the UEFA Europa Conference League winners would win the tournament, a comment his colleagues in the studio deemed ridiculous.
“I got laughed at, the football world laughed at me from the very first day,” he said on the Obi One Podcast.
“I was asked who's gonna win the Club World Cup, I said, ‘I believe with the players that we have, with the way we finished the season, the moment that we had going into the tournament, I see us doing well and going all the way.”
“I see us winning the tournament, and everyone in the studio, the whole studio laughed at me, and the whole football world laughed at me, saying, ‘Mikel, what are you talking about?’”
He revealed that he got messages on his Instagram page from the football world asking him what he was smoking to think that Chelsea would go all the way
“I stood by what I said because from the way we played towards the end of the season, qualifying for the Champions League, and taking that momentum into the tournament, I thought there's something there to go all the way,” he continued.
He added that despite the tournament boasting the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, he believes his former club have what it takes to go all the way.
Source: Getty Images
The former Super Eagles defender believes that the win will spur the team to greater heights, as it has created confidence and a winning mentality in the dressing room.
“Fantastic tournament, great win for us and going into the new season, it's going to give us a lot of confidence. The team has tasted what it feels like to win; now there is a winning culture at the club back again,” he concluded.
The Blues began their 2025/26 Premier League season with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. They have a chance to bounce back against West Ham on Friday night.
Mikel urges Chelsea to keep Jackson
Legit.ng reported that Mikel Obi urged Chelsea to keep Nicolas Jackson after it was confirmed that the strikers will leave the club this summer.
Mikel, who had publicly slated the Senegalese forward, claimed he still had something to offer and only needed competition to stay on his toes.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
