Chelsea punishing Mikel Obi because he played for Nigeria at Olympics – Ikhana

Former Enyimba coach, Kadiri Ikhana, has claimed that John Mikel Obi is not getting playing time at Chelsea, because he chose to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Mikel Obi captained the Dream Team VI to a bronze medal at the Games.
However, new coach Antonio Conte, is yet to play the Super Eagles midfielder since he returned.
“I have watched Chelsea play several times this season and I am yet to be convinced that Mikel is not good enough to be a starter,” Ikhana told Complete Sports in Abuja.
“To bench him and at times not list him at all suggest something other than footballing reasons. I guess the coach is angry because Mikel went to the Olympic with the Nigerian team
“The coach being a new man in the club must have wanted to see all the players in pre-season training but Mikel had already been cleared for the Rio Games by the club and I want to believe that Conte did not like that and decided to blacklist the Eagles skipper or how can he explain that Mikel is not good to play the EFL Cup game against West Ham?”
He continued: “I think Mikel is good to play for Chelsea first team even if it means bit-part playing but to phase him out completely is like telling him that his time at Stamford Bridge is up and I would advise Mikel to move during the January transfer window to save his career.”