Mourinho showers praise on Mikel as he wins man-of-the-match award in 4-1 victory

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has showered praise on Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi after he was voted the man-of-the-match during the Blues' 4-1 victory over Walsall in Wednesday's Capital One Cup tie.

 

In what was a huge mismatch, Premiership side Chelsea easily overpowered Walsall at their Bescot Stadium as they had too much firepower for the League One side. Playing in the third tier of English football, Walsall had no answer to the relentless Chelsea attacks and goals from Ramires, Loic Remy, Kennedy and Pedro helped the Blues advance into the fourth round of the League Cup .

 

Mikel was central to everything Chelsea did on the night, having a hand in all four goals as he played in a three-man midfield alongside Ramires and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Mikel who was on for the entire duration of the game was cautioned in the 39th minute but this did not stop him being named man of the match.

 

Chelsea now face a tricky away game against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in the fourth round of the League Cup. Walsall manager James O’Connor, said he was pleased to see his men never lost focus in middle against Mikel and his colleagues.

 

Mourinho added: “We brought a good solid defence and the midfield was really good. Mikel and Ramires played amazingly well.

 

“I analysed Walsall and I was surprised with the quality of their play. They were a different team to normal in League One side,  not so physical, technically fast and they were very well organised."

 

He added that he has found a team in League One playing the quality of football that they tried to play. This will be a big boost for Mikel who is due to join the Super Eagles after this weekend's league games as they face DR Congo and Cameroon in a double header taking place in Belgium on October 8 and 11 respectively.

 

On October 8, the Eagles face the Leopards of Congo in Antwerp and on the 11th they face Cameroon's Indomitable Lions  in Brussels. Cameroon has already named a full strength squad for the match, made up of 25 European-based professionals.

 

Cameroon squad

Goalkeepers: Fabrice Ondoua (Barcelona), Ndy Assembe (Nancy), Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam)

 

Defenders: Allan Nyom (Watford), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Nicolas N'Koulou (Marseille), Sebastien Bassong (Norwich), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Collins Fai (Dinamo Bucarest), Mandjang Kombi (Union De Douala), Ambroise Oyongo (Montreal Impact)

 

Midfielders: Stephane M\'Bia (Trabzonspor), Eyong Enoh (Standard Liege), Felix Eboa Eboa (PSG II), Cedric Loe Raoul (Al-Sailiya SC), Dani Ndi (Sporting Gijon), Sebastien Siani (KV Oostende), Edgar Salli (St Gallen)

 

Forwards: Benjamin Moukandjo (Lorient) Leonard Kweuke (Rizespor), Clinton N\'Jie (Tottenham), Zoua Jacques (GFC Ajaccio), Vincent Aboubacar (FC Porto), Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting (Schalke 04), Oumarou Aboubakar (Partizan Belgrade)