Mikel Obi Sends Worrisome Message to Chelsea About Nigeria Eligible Defender Tosin Adarabioyo
- Mikel Obi says Tosin Adarabioyo is not the guy to lead Chelsea’s defence to win the Premier League title
- The Blues have taken just eight points from their first five games, sitting seven points behind leaders Liverpool
- Mikel insists Chelsea needs stronger defenders and a top goalkeeper to become serious Premier League contenders
Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has raised concerns about the club’s defensive options, singling out Nigeria-eligible centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as a weak point.
Adarabioyo joined Chelsea from Fulham and has been filling in for the injured Levi Colwill this season. While he has been praised by some for stepping up, Mikel believes he is not the long-term solution.
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Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel questioned whether Tosin is good enough to lead the Blues’ defence as they aim to compete with the Premier League’s top sides for the title.
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“I don’t believe Tosin is the guy to lead our defence. If Chelsea really want to compete for the Premier League, they need a top-class centre-back alongside Colwill.”
The former Super Eagles captain compared Chelsea’s current backline to those of rivals Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, all of whom boast established defensive pairings.
“You look at Van Dijk and Konate, Dias and Stones, Gabriel and Saliba, they are strong partnerships. Chelsea need that spine if they want to challenge for the title,” he added.
Chelsea’s inconsistent start this season
Chelsea have taken eight points from their first five Premier League matches, with two wins, two draws, and a single defeat.
Their defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed multiple times, and Mikel believes this inconsistency will hold them back unless addressed, Sports Illustrated reports.
“Going forward, we are fantastic. We are creating chances, Cole Palmer has been brilliant,” Mikel said.
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“But now he’s going to be out for a while, which makes it even more important that we stay strong defensively. The Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint.”
Mikel wants top signings at Chelsea
Mikel’s comments come as Chelsea prepare for a crucial run of fixtures against Brighton, Benfica, and Liverpool.
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The former Super Eagles captain believes a world-class centre-back and a reliable goalkeeper would transform Chelsea into genuine title contenders.
“Once we sort out the centre-back position and get a top goalkeeper, we’ll be in the mix to win the league,” Mikel insisted. “Right now, I just don’t see it happening with what we have.”
Chelsea currently sit seven points behind Liverpool, who have a perfect record so far this season.
With injuries to Palmer, Fofana, and Tosin himself, manager Enzo Maresca faces a test of his squad depth in the coming weeks.
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Maresca confirms injury to Tosin
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Nigeria-eligible defender Tosin has picked up a calf injury and faces a two-to-three-week absence on the sidelines.
Maresca confirmed that the England-born centre-back, who is eligible to represent the Super Eagles in international football, will be unavailable for the Blues until the international windows are completed.
Source: Legit.ng
