John Obi Mikel praises Robert Sánchez after FIFA Club World Cup final heroics

By Wale Mustapha

Former Nigeria international and Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has hailed Robert Sánchez for his standout performance in the FIFA Club World Cup final, singling out the Spanish goalkeeper as a key figure in Chelsea’s 3-0 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

The match, held in the United States, saw Chelsea lift their first Club World Cup title under manager Enzo Maresca, with Sánchez keeping a clean sheet against one of the most feared attacking sides in world football.

His assured presence and crucial saves drew praise from fans and pundits alike — including Mikel, who had previously voiced concerns about Sánchez’s form.

Known for his candid opinions, Mikel had been openly critical of the 26-year-old following a string of inconsistent displays last season.

However, after Sánchez’s composed showing in the final, the former midfielder admitted he was impressed and happy to be proven wrong.

“I’m surprised, he had a really good game today. Credit when credit is due,” Mikel said on DAZN.

“He did play a good game today — brilliant save, strong hands. That’s what you need from a goalkeeper. When they don’t have much to do, and are called upon, they’re there to make saves. He did that today.”

Sánchez, who faced scrutiny throughout the 2023/24 campaign, made a statement with his performance on one of the biggest stages, helping Chelsea neutralize PSG’s attack and secure the trophy.

“Brilliant play from him and I’m very, very happy for him,” Mikel added. “Maybe, hopefully, this gives him a lot of confidence going into the new season and we can see a much better Sánchez.”

Chelsea’s win adds to their growing list of international honors, and Sánchez’s redemption arc could prove vital as the club builds toward a more stable and competitive future.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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