
- Former Chelsea prima John Mikel Obi has ignored shot icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi from his database of the astir hard players helium faced during his career
- The 2013 AFCON victor named an England fable and one-time UEFA Champions League victor arsenic his toughest opponent.
- Obi signed for Chelsea successful 2006 contempt being unveiled arsenic a Manchester United subordinate months earlier
John Mikel Obi has named Liverpool fable Steven Gerrard arsenic the champion subordinate helium faced during his shot career.
The 38-year-old faced the ex-England planetary during his 11-year stint with the Blues.
Obi won 3 English Premier League titles, 1 UEFA Champions League title, and 1 UEFA Europa League title, portion Gerrard won the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup but failed to triumph an EPL title.

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Gerrard, my toughest opponent- Mikel Obi
Former Super Eagles skipper John Mikel Obi said Steven Gerrard is the toughest hostile helium has faced since turning professional.
Speaking connected Peter Crouch Podcast, the midfielder said the erstwhile Aston Villa manager is technically and tactically bully during his playing days.
The FA Cup victor said Gerrard was bully some offensively and defensively portion manning the midfield. He said:
"There is ever I, and I ever say. I cognize radical deliberation I americium going to accidental Lionel Messi oregon Ronaldo, but it was your aged teammate, Steven Gerrard."Oh my God, Steven G ever gives maine the toughest time. Quick, technically precise good, and erstwhile helium started playing arsenic a fig ten, helium ever loved to tally down me. "Steven G ever gives maine a nightmare.""Can you retrieve erstwhile Gerrard started playing arsenic a fig 10 for Liverpool with Spain's Fernando Torres up front?" helium asked via Five podcast.One of Steven Gerrard's memorable moments was erstwhile helium inspired Liverpool to travel from 3 zero down to bushed AC Milan successful the last of the 2025 UEFA Champions League, per TnTSports.

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Fans react
English fans person reacted to John Mikel's prime of the champion subordinate helium faced during his enactment astatine Stamford Bridge.
Wondwossen Tessema confirmed that Steven Gerrard was an all-around subordinate who could present astatine immoderate position, portion Greg Totino added that Mikel has ended the Gerrard/Lampard/Scholes debate.
Wondwossen Tessema said:
"Yes sir. He is implicit player. When I accidental implicit player, helium is tackler, header, shooter. Playing some legs Left limb close limb helium tin play each position. Steve is my Number 1 successful the world."Greg Totino wrote:
"Just a reminder that the Gerrard/Lampard/Scholes statement ONLY exists online among the fans. It’s ne'er been a question among the footballers: it’s Gerrard and it’s not close. Even Scholes said so."Dino Panayiotou added:
"Sometime talking consciousness astir top players for a change. Refreshing."Finley Allan Kalimbe wrote;
"Steven Gerrard made maine to emotion shot and to beryllium a large instrumentality of Liverpool...wen I spot the look of that feline eish!"Mikel Obi speaks connected Chelsea signing Delap
Legit.ng earlier reported that John Mikel Obi has expressed concerns implicit Chelsea’s determination to motion Liam Delap alternatively of semipermanent people and Nigerian planetary Victor Osimhen.
Obi described the tourney arsenic a accidental for Chelsea to triumph much silverware and trial their younger talents.
The erstwhile Super Eagles skipper acknowledged that Delap is simply a bully striker with the imaginable to marque an impact.
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Source: Legit.ng