John Obi Mikel reveals ‘ridiculous’ Didier Drogba’s pre-match mentality

Former Nigeria captain, John Mikel Obi has revealed Didier Drogba’s unique approach to big and small games during his tenure with the London club.

The Ivorian with 254 appearances, scored 104 goals and provided 64 assists, helping the club win numerous titles including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and notably the Champions League in his final season.

Mikel, who was Drogba’s teammate at Chelsea, insists his focus on games where stakes were highest, like Champions League nights and clashes with top clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool, are what made him special.

“Drogba loves the big games; he was a guy who enjoyed it,” he said on his ObiOne Podcast.

“He loves a little bit of attention; Didier behaves like a woman. You pamper him, give him a lot of attention, and he produces. But he was always there for us in the big games.

“When it was the little games, like when you’re playing the FA Cup or playing against small clubs like Stoke or other small clubs, Drogba never wanted to play those games.

“If it’s against the big guns, from that week, on a Monday leading up to the weekend on Saturday, you can see his mood, you can feel that he’s engaged.

“He wants those games; he wants the challenge because he knows that the manager will turn on him. After all, the manager will say that he will win the game for us.”