Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti plans to bring John Obi Mikel out of shadows and into the limelight
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been singing the praises of Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel as he attempts to transform the youngster from a promising prospect into the finished article.
The Nigerian international joined the club three years ago for £16m from Lyn Oslo but at times has shown only glimpses of his true potential.
But his new Italian manager clearly feels Mikel could have a huge say in whether or not his reign at Stamford Bridge is a success or a flop.
He says Mikel has great technical and creative ability, and is capable of becoming the playmaker of the team. In fact, upon closer inspection, many comparisons can be made between the two stars.
The Italian knows what it's like to be overshadowed in a team full of high-profile players. As a combative midfielder, he was often overlooked when it came to handing out the plaudits during his playing career at AC Milan, where he won two European Cups.
While Ancelotti had Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten hogging the headlines, for Mikel it is Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
The 49-year-old clearly sees something of himself in Mikel, but more significantly for Chelsea, he also sees an unappreciated talent who could lead the club to glory.
The Italian said: 'I have a lot of trust in Mikel, I think he can be the playmaker of this team. He is a young player, but has great quality, both technical and tactical.
'For the present and for the future he is a very important player for us. We are very happy he has signed a new contract and I hope that he stays at Chelsea for a lot of years.
'I would like that he puts in his great quality for the team.'
Such praise can only be good for a player's confidence and for Mikel, it has made him aspire to become more of a dominant force in the Premier League and in Europe.
And as far as he is concerned, he couldn't wish for a better coach to help him achieve his goals.
Mikel said: 'He was a great player himself and it is a great honour that he sees something in me.
'He says I am a player with great qualities, but thinks I can be even better. It is going to take a bit of time, but I am going to work very close with him to make it happen.
'He likes the fact I am strong and can play with the ball, but says that I still need to add more things to my game if I do that then he thinks I'm going to be fantastic.
'Hopefully things are going to go well and he will bring out the best in me.
'I have worked with him for two weeks and we are trying to get to know the formation he wants to play.
'Before the season starts we are all going to be mentally focused and we're going to get the system right. The team wants to win titles and this is why he is here.'
For Mikel, there could be no better role model and he is already full of respect, as well as some envy, for his new boss.
So far he has picked up two FA Cup winners' medals and one in the League Cup for all his efforts, but it is the kind of success Ancelotti has tasted in the Champions league which he craves.
He said: 'The manager has won it twice as a player and as a manager and I really envy him for that.
'We have come close so many times and I think that is why the club have brought him here, to take us to that final step.
'I haven't talked to him yet about what it's like to win the Champions League, but I hope he will have a big impact on my career.
'The way he has come in and the ideas he has as to how to set the team up, I think we can win everything.'
Ancelotti's first task though is to continue Chelsea's winning momentum on their preseason tour and tonight they face his former club AC Milan in Baltimore, where new million signing Yuri Zhirkov could make his Chelsea debut.
