"He’s the Only....He wants to win" – John Obi Mikel Praises one Chelsea player calls him 'Chelsea’s True Leader'
Ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel praises Enzo Fernandez for showing passion and leadership on the pitch, saying he's the only player who calls out teammates when things go wrong.
Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has praised Enzo Fernandez for showing leadership and passion on the pitch saying the Argentine midfielder is the only player in the current Chelsea team who is not afraid to call out his teammates when they make mistakes.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel said he really likes the way Fernandez shows he wants to win and pushes others to do better.
“He’s that one player that I see that screams at the players when they’re not doing something right,” Mikel said. “He wants to win. You can see it in his face. He’s calling out players. He’s screaming at players. I like to see that.”
Enzo joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a British-record fee of £106 million. After a slow start, he is now having his best season for the club.
He delivered a great performance against Tottenham and was named man of the match in their recent match. Although Chelsea struggled to score in their draw against Brentford, Fernandez still worked hard and tried to push the team forward.
Fernandez’s confrontation with teammate Christopher Nkunku was a specific instance that clearly supported Mikel’s views he cited it as a good example of the leadership qualities that Chelsea needs.
With club captain Reece James missing many games this season due to injury, Fernandez has been given the chance to wear the captain’s armband. He’s shown he can handle the responsibility well and is becoming one of the most trusted players in the squad.
Despite some transfer rumours linking him with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Fernandez isn’t planning to leave Chelsea. The club also has no intention of selling him this summer.
With midfielder Romeo Lavia dealing with injuries, Fernandez is expected to play most of the remaining matches this season. His role will be important if Chelsea wants to qualify for the Champions League and win the UEFA Conference League.
Chelsea have had an up-and-down season, struggling to find form despite spending a lot of money on new players. The team is still young and lacks experienced leaders. That’s why Mikel’s praise of Fernandez is necessary.
Even though he’s only 23, Fernandez has already won the World Cup with Argentina. At Chelsea, he’s showing he’s not just a talented player but also someone who leads by example.
