Mikel: No regret dumping Chelsea for Rio Olympics

Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has vowed never to swap his Olympic bronze medal for a regular place in Antonio Conte’s team adding that he has no regret dumping the team for Rio 2016.

Mikel has not played a single minute this season after being frozen out by the Blues’ ruthless new Italian boss.

The former Lyn Oslo of Norway upstart who is Chelsea’s second longest-serving player behind captain John Terry added that he has no regrets going to Rio Olympics but ready to quit Stamford Bridge in January.

Speaking with London Sun, Mikel said: “I have never been a guy who makes excuses in life and never shy away from responsibilities.

Read also: Super Eagles to face Egypt in January friendly in Dubai

“Yes, maybe people will say the new manager was upset I left and went to the Olympics, that I didn’t have a pre-season with the team.

“He probably thinks I don’t care about the team, things like that.

“But I don’t want to use those excuses. I have to keep training hard and make sure I change the manager’s mind. If not, then we’ll see what happens in January.

“But, no, I would never swap my Olympic medal for a place back in the Chelsea team.

The 29-year-old who scored in Saturday’s night’s 3-1 World Cup qualifier victory over Algeria said he will consider other options at his disposal in January.

“One thing you have to do in life as a man is that when you make a decision, or a sacrifice, you have to deal with it.
“You have to stand by your decision. You have to live with it.

“I have not one single regret in going to the Olympics. And I will not trade my medal for anything.

“It’s what I deserve. I worked hard for it, so why would I trade it for something else — a place in the Chelsea squad?”

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