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MIKEL: IT`S MY JOB

Posted by arimah patrick ifeanyi on September 1, 2010 at 12:09am
One of the side's aims this season is to extend the run of clean sheets and John Mikel Obi has a big role to play in the plan.The Nigerian midfielder has started his season with a bang, putting in three strong performances and setting up Nicolas Anelka with a brilliantly simple but beautifully accurate long ball against Wigan.It still remains a long time since Mikel found the net himself but instead of launching shots on goal, Mikel believes his duties lie in keeping the side's balance, both in attack and defensively.It's not so long ago fans would have expected our number 12 to shoot, if he'd found sufficient time and space, so why does he no longer go for glory?'It is tempting but the team is more important and I have to always make sure I keep the shape of the team, the balance when everyone is going forward,' says Mikel. 'That is my job and I am happy doing it.'After last season's trend of conceding before we scored, there is a new agenda for Carlo Ancelotti's team this campaign.'As much as we are scoring goals and playing well, another thing the manager wants us to do is keep a clean sheet,' Mikel explains. 'If we keep a clean sheet there is always the possibility to score goals.'The way we play we create chances, against Stoke we didn't create enough but we managed to win the game.'The current results are in stark contrast to that of pre-season, which ended with four straight defeats, but since the beginning of the League season, the Blues have looked unstoppable, and captain John Terry has spoken highly of the form Mikel is currently experiencing.The Nigerian himself feels the World Cup played a role in our pre-season campaign, citing a lack of fitness as the contributing factor.'When the guys came back, none of them were fit and they were trying to get back into fitness.'It was difficult because when you are playing in pre-season and you have two people fit and the rest of the team are not then it is difficult.'But now we are all getting back into our normal shape and I think we will get better when the season gets going.'He may be optimistic, but Mikel is also aware of the test that lies ahead and is not allowing the opening trio of wins to bring complacency. Instead he's relishing the upcoming challenge.'The season has just started, we have only played three games, and we have to play the likes of Manchester United, Man City, Arsenal, Tottenham, there are bigger tests coming up but we are playing well.'We have to keep going on like this and when we play the bigger teams we will play better.'This is Chelsea and this is what we like to do. We knew Stoke would come here and make it very difficult for us and they did but we managed to win the game.'
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