Why coaches fear Mikel – Siasia

Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia has
warned that anyone who wishes to talk to
Mikel Obi to raise his game, should equally be
ready to take a slagging from the Chelsea star.
Mikel has come under intense criticisms
following his recent sluggish displays for the
Super Eagles.
And Siasia, who lined
up the midfielder for
the 2005 FIFA U20
World Cup and then
dropped him for the
2008 Beijing
Olympics, said that
Mikel does not
welcome criticisms.
“Someone would have
to talk to him. But to talk to Mikel, you have to
be ready for your own beating,” Siasia told
Africanfootball.com.
This further confirms the awesome player-
power the Chelsea star wields in the Super
Eagles.
Siasia said that it will be up to Mikel to take
the responsibility to step up his game.
“From what we have seen and what people are
talking about, they don’t think he is giving his
best. But he should be able to criticise
himself,” argued the coach.
“He should do a self-critique. If he believes he
is not doing well, he has to try and up his
game.
“He has been watching the games from the
World Cup, if he thinks he is not doing well,
why is he not scoring, he has to be able to
look at those videos and see the areas he
needs
to improve on.
“Nobody has to tell
him. He is a
professional. So, I
am not going to
criticise him. He
has done well for
this country but if
he is not doing well
like he used to,
then something has
to be done.”
Siasia equally conceded he is “confused” about
whether the best position for the player is as a
defensive or attacking midfielder.
“I am actually confused on that one, I don’t
know anymore,” he admitted.
“As a defensive midfield player, it doesn’t mean
you should not go forward or try to take some
shots at goal. (Nemanja) Matic is doing it,
Ramires is doing it, so how come Mikel is not
doing it? Why can’t he cover the box-to-box
play. If you don’t get into the box, you can
never shoot at goal. So, that is his problem.”