Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia has warned that
anyone who wishes to talk to Mikel Obi to raise his game, should equally
be ready to take a slagging from the Chelsea star.
Mikel has come under intense criticisms following his recent sluggish displays for the Super Eagles.
NOT A LAUGHING MATTER – Siasia
And Siasia, who lined
up the midfielder for the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup and then
dropped him for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said that Mikel does not
welcome criticisms.
“Someone would have to talk to him. But to talk to Mikel,
you have to be ready for your own beating,” Siasia told
Africanfootball.com.
This further confirms the awesome player-power the Chelsea star wields in the Super Eagles.
Siasia said that it will be up to Mikel to take the responsibility to step up his game.
“From what we have seen and what people are talking about,
they don’t think he is giving his best. But he should be able to
criticise himself,” argued the coach.
“He should do a self-critique. If he believes he is not doing well, he has to try and up his game.
“He has been watching the games from the World Cup, if he
thinks he is not doing well, why is he not scoring, he has to be able to
look at those videos and see the areas he needs Nigeria’s midfielder John Obi Mike
to improve on.
“Nobody has to tell him. He is a professional. So, I am not
going to criticise him. He has done well for this country but if he is
not doing well like he used to, then something has to be done.”
Siasia equally conceded he is “confused” about whether the
best position for the player is as a defensive or attacking midfielder.
“I am actually confused on that one, I don’t know anymore,” he admitted.
“As a defensive midfield player, it doesn’t mean you should
not go forward or try to take some shots at goal. (Nemanja) Matic is
doing it, Ramires is doing it, so how come Mikel is not doing it? Why
can’t he cover the box-to-box play. If you don’t get into the box, you
can never shoot at goal. So, that is his problem.”
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