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Mikel Is A Stubborn Player, That's Why He's Feared- Samson Siasia

Published

10 years ago

September 17, 2014

Former Super Eagles Head coach, Samson Siasia has revealed that Mikel is a very stubborn player and individual who doesn’t condone criticism.
Mikel has recently been under the radar following his awful showing with the Super Eagles.
He said: “Someone would have to talk to him. But to talk to Mikel, you have to be ready for your own beating”.
This recent revelation confirms the amount of player-power the Chelsea star wields in the Super Eagles.
“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 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 then said that he is no longer sure of the midfielder’s position now.
“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.”
Siasia had coached young Mikel during the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup and then dropped him for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, saying that Mikel does not welcome criticisms.