Mikel may land in hot soup again!

…After blasting Benitez for playing Luiz in his position
•Tips Chelsea to crush Corinthians today
By Onyewuchi Nwachukwu
Nigerian international, John Mikel Obi, may be in for a showdown with Manager Rafael Benitez, after vehemently criticising the Spanish coach for playing David Luiz in his position in Chelsea’s World Club Cup’s semi-final game against Monterrey last Thursday. Mikel’s vituperations were at variance with the opinion of most fans of the club, who were impressed with Luiz’s attempt to play in defensive midfield as Chelsea beat Monterrey in the game.
The Super Eagles’ midfielder was not expecting to be playing alongside the Brazilian centre-back, but after Benitez sprung the surprise, he was not stunned to see Luiz rampaging forward from the start. “It was a bit of a shock to see David lining up there,” said Mikel as reported in The Guardian. “I said to him, as we got on to the pitch: ‘Where shall I play?’ “He said he’d play the holding role and that I should go forward. I said OK, but when the game started, I looked up and he was already up the end of the pitch.” Mikel did not think playing Luiz out of position should be a regular occurrence.
“David is a great player, but I don’t know if this is going to be a long-term thing,” said the Nigerian international. “I think he needs to play at the back. It was a good performance from him because he kept the ball well and played it well. But when it’s not your normal position, you sometimes lose something. “He is a great player and a strong character, who can only get better for this club.
He keeps going and doing his thing. Credit to him.” Both players have come in for criticism – Luiz because he plays with too much flair and attacking intent for a defender and Mikel, because fans complain he does not contribute enough going forward. Under Roberto Di Matteo, Mikel flourished, perhaps turning in his best performance for the club in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Benitez is less keen on the midfielder and has played Spaniard Oriol Romeu in his stead recently. But the former Barcelona player picked up a serious knee injury against Sunderland penultimate Saturday and is out for several months while it is treated. Meanwhile, Mikel has predicted that Chelsea’s current form would help the team record a resounding victory against Brazil’s Corinthians to win the Club World Cup today.
The Blues will battle South American champions, Corinthians, in today’s final in Yokohama, Japan, and the Nigerian international midfielder revealed that his club have got the edge to beat the Brazilians to the trophy. Chelsea beat Monterrey of Mexico 3–1 in the semi-final, while Corinthians beat African champion, Al Ahly 1–0 to reach the final. –“We are here for business and that is to win the Club World Cup and write another history,” declared Mikel, who in May helped the London club win a first-ever UEFA Champions League at Bayern Munich.
“This is our first appearance in the competition and we are in the final. I am sure we will win the trophy by beating Corinthians. “They are South American champions and they are good but with our recent form, I am optimistic and believe we will beat them to lift the trophy.” After a tough start by new Manager, Rafael Benitez, ‘The Blues’ thrashed Danish champions, FC Nordsjaelland before they crushed Sunderland 3-1 in the English Premier League.
This will be Benitez third final. In 2005, he led Liverpool to lose 1-0 to another Brazilian club, Sao Paulo, but made amends in 2010, when his Inter Milan trounced African kings, TP Mazembe 3-0. After last season’s historic double, the Super Eagles’ star now wants to add another page to the history books. “I am happy to be in Japan with my team to compete in the Club World Cup. This is the first time Chelsea is playing in this competition and I hope to win it with them.
I am ready to contribute my quota to making another history here in Japan,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com Besides winning a first-ever Champions League trophy with Chelsea, Mikel has also won a league and FA Cup double with the London club. The Nigeria international is serving out a three-match ban in England, but that does not affect his participation in the Club World Cup.
TheSun