‘I should have won’ – Ex-Chelsea star Mikel Obi claims he deserved Champions League man of the match award

John Mikel Obi made 372 appearances for Chelsea between 2006 and 2017, winning every major honor during his time with the West London club 

Former Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi has claimed that he should have won the 2012 Uefa Champions League final Man of the Match award for his decent performance against Bayern Munich, Soccernet.ng reports.

The then-25-year-old Mikel was one of the standout players for the Blues on that historic night in Munich, where his brilliance helped Chelsea clinch their maiden Champions League title.

Bayern took the lead late in the second half through Thomas Muller, but Didier Drogba equalized for Chelse five minutes later to take the game to extra time, in which Arjen Robben missed a penalty, Petr Cech saving the low drive.

The team stayed level at 1-1 and the match went to a penalty shootout, which Chelsea won 4-3 to clinch their first Champions League title. In doing so, they became the first London club to win the tournament.

Mikel would go on to spend four and a half years more with the London club before departing in January 2017 following the arrival of N’Golo Kante.

Six-and-a-half years later, the Nigerian was back at Stamford Bridge to team up with 2012 heroes like John Terry, Florent Malouda, Ramires, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou, and Petr Cech to help Chelsea Legends claim a 4-0 victory over Bayern Munich Legends at home last Saturday.

After a standout performance in the Legends of Europe game, the former Nigerian midfielder rolled back the years, choosing the club’s Champions League final win over Bayern Munich as his best game ever, while also expressing he should have won the man of the match award if not for Didier Drogba’s timely heroic which save the day for the Blues.

My best game ever, Mikel confirmed to chelseafc.com 

I should have won the man of the match but Drogba came good and saved the day.

I’ve watched that game a few times since. There is nothing better than this.

Mikel was part of the squad that won Nigeria’s third Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 2013, and the Bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.