02 March 2024 , 05:00
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John Obi Mikel's warning to Mauricio Pochettino appears all the more prescient in the wake of Chelsea's wounding Carabao Cup final loss - as he issued a reminder about the previous ethos under Roman Abramovich.
The Blues responded to their extra time defeat at Wembley in the showpiece with a spirited 3-2 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup fith round. Booking their place in the last eight draw, the victory came after Chelsea rallied after sacrificing a two-goal lead as Conor Gallagher secured 90th-minute winner.
However, the loss to Liverpool in the final on the previous Sunday is one that will take some getting over for the Stamford Bridge faithful. With the game appearing to be heading for penalties, a header from Reds captain Virgil van Dijk enabled Jurgen Klopp's youngsters to triumph over an expensively-assembled Blues team.
The significance of their late collapse in extra time was not lost on Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville either, who uttered a now-infamous line dubbing Pochettino's team the 'billion pound bottle jobs'. Now, the previous words of club legend Mikel could well be ringing true for Chelsea owner Todd Boehly.
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Speaking at to Sky Sports at The Best FIFA Football Awards in London at the turn of the year, former Blues midfielder Mikel sent out a reminder of the club's ethos for much of the 21st century. The Nigerian asserted: "We've given them time now. it’s been half a year. Now it's time to win. In Chelsea there's no time. You have to win - that's our motto.
"If you don't win, Roman gets you out of the door and gets someone else," he continued, as he reflected on the managerial merry-go-round of the Abramovich era. "So I think that should be the new owner's way of thinking - you have to win. If you don't win, what's the point of being at Chelsea?"
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Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel did not hold back as he issued some home truths to his former club's chiefs (PA)With the Blues currently sitting in 11th place in the Premier League standings, the prospect of a second mid-table finish in as many years looks a distinct possibility. Ex-stalwart Mikel, who represented the club between 2006 and 2017, was among those to express his feelings of alarm at the club's decline and the need for the standards of old to be resurrected.
Chelsea's scattergun approach in terms of its revolving door of managers characterised the Abramovich reign at the club but this coincided with landmark success. Under the tutelage of bosses including Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte, the Blues won 18 major trophies - more than any English club in that period.
"The excuse of trying to review is done. So now we have to win games, play better, improve and try to compete," Mikel later asserted in a warning to Boehly. "This year, knock it on the head now. Next year we need to be up there. We have to keep building the team. Everybody says we've spent a lot of money and we have."
Despite issuing some harsh home truths to the powers-that-be at the West London club, Mikel remained optimistic that the club's fortunes will be reversed eventually. He added: "We've bought a lot of good players and they need time to improve, and get better as a team.
"I think Poch is a really good manager. He does really well with young players and with the team. We need a striker, a point-man who scores goals."