John Obi Mikel fires stark warning to Chelsea owners over latest controversial call

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Chelsea legend Jon Obi Mikel fears the club is in grave danger of losing its winning mentality.

Mikel has warned Chelsea took “one step forward” under Enzo Maresca but took “five steps backwards” by getting rid of him when they need experienced leaders on and off the pitch. Blues boss Liam Rosenior, who takes charge of his first game at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, faces a huge task in winning over the fans who have turned on co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

Former Chelsea star Mikel, who won two Premier League titles and the Champions League in 11 glittering years at the club, says Boehly and Eghbali must start listening to the supporters and go back to buying proven winners rather than potential.

Mikel said: “Maresca built a very good squad with the players that he had, young talented players with potential and I thought he would get more time to grow with that team. I think we’ve taken one step forward and five steps backwards.

“Back in the day, we used to have those big-name players, or those big-name coaches, and the club has decided to go in this direction which I don't know if it's a gamble, we'll wait and see.

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“Liam has to create that winning mentality again, he has to make sure he brings the fans with him, because he needs the fans.

“Right now, the fans are not happy, so he needs to find a way of carrying the fans along with him, creating that winning mentality, it's a tough job for him to do

“Whatever the owners’ motives are, I'm just hoping that they will look at the football club and know that the fans are the football club. Without the fans, there's no football club.

“They have to listen to the fans, they have to feel the temperature of the fans, they have to be there, and know exactly… listen to the fans, and know what the fans demand from them.

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“The Premier League and the Champions League is what we've always won. That's who we are and I'd like to see the club get back to that.

“We've spoiled our fans, you know what I mean? And they're used to winning, and when they're not getting it now, that’s why they're frustrated, angry and upset with how the club has been run.”

Mikel believes a huge part of Chelsea’s inconsistency is not having enough experienced leaders and big personalities on the pitch compared to his days at the club.

“When the game was really, really difficult, and I turned around, I would see Frank Lampard behind me, I see John Terry next to me, I see Didier Drogba, Claude Makelele,” said Mikel.

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“Top, top players that can pull you around and say, you know what: ‘OK, let's go. We know it's tough, but let's stick to it.’

“You need players that can tell you this on the pitch, that can coach you that on the pitch. Yes, the manager can tell you all that after, but on the pitch, we take responsibility.

“And that's what I don't see with this squad right now, and that's why the inconsistency's always there, because they win a game, they think: ‘OK, we’ve won a game now, we're gonna relax the next two games’. No, no, no, no. It's about winning, and that's the culture of the football club.”

Mikel also worries that unless Chelsea compete for the biggest trophies like the Premier League or Champions League then even more the established stars like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo could get fed-up and leave.

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He added: “Players want to win trophies. You have the likes of Enzo Fernandez, he's a World Cup winner. Caicedo also is a top player now.

“Those players will be looking and thinking: ‘I don't want to wait another five years before I can win the Premier League or the Champions League.’

“I hope that doesn't start putting something in their head, thinking now they want to move on and go to another club, because if you keep chopping and changing, there is no stability with a manager. That affects the players.

“They start thinking: ‘You know what? I can't be doing this every season because I don't know who's gonna be the manager next season.’

“That's the question that these players are gonna be putting in their head, so… I just hope that the owners will do what's right for the football club.”

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