Why I’ll pick Ndidi over Mikel as a defensive midfielder

Former Tremendous Eagles coach has weighed in on the sunshine debate on who’s the higher defensive midfielder between Mikel Obi and Wilfred Ndidi

Sunday Oliseh has mentioned he by no means noticed Mikel as an offensive midfielder regardless of the participant catching the attention in a sophisticated function on the 2005 World Youth Championship.

Oliseh, talking on the Athlst Podcast, Particular Supply with Emmanuel Babayaro and Matthew Edafe mentioned Mikel is an effective participant and did nicely at Chelsea however he’d decide Ndidi over him within the holding midfield place.

When requested on what he thinks of Mikel as a participant by Edafe, Oliseh mentioned;

“He’s a participant who’s achieved some good with Chelsea. However while you discuss enjoying as an offensive midfielder, he’s not an offensive midfielder. My man right here is aware of I’m blunt to say sure issues. Offensive midfielders have sure qualities and he doesn’t have any of them. As regards as a defensive midfielder, I feel he’s helpful however I received’t play him. I’ll play Ndidi as a result of a defensive midfielder’s work is you must win balls with out making fouls, you must be superb in aerial balls. You need to have some management by serving to others.

“After I coached the Tremendous Eagles, I invited the person. There have been a number of controversies. Whenever you’re somebody that’s principled, as an alternative of claiming that’s your choice, they attempt to hyperlink it to controversies. I invited the person to play with the Tremendous Eagles. He didn’t need to play. I used to be like, okay, we’ll discover an alternative choice.”

Oliseh additional harped on his level and said the rationale he could also be perceptively seen as conceited by the Nigerian press.

“I’ll favor to play Ndidi,” he concluded.

Oliseh, nevertheless rated Chelsea’s Ngolo Kante over Ndidi as the very best defensive midfielder on the planet. He mentioned the Frenchman has some particular qualities which are an important for a participant in that place.