Source: Team_Talk
Mikel: My hard work is paying off
John Obi Mikel feels his hard work on the training pitch is paying off after two starring performances in Chelsea's fine start to the season.[LNB] The Blues have recorded successive 6-0 victories in the Premier League, over West Brom and at Wigan and next up at Stamford Bridge are Stoke - hammered 7-0 there in April.[LNB]Mikel is now fully fit after a knee injury forced him to miss Nigeria's World Cup campaign and the midfielder is relishing the challenges ahead.[LNB]"Towards the end of last season before I was injured I was in good shape and playing almost every week. Then I got injured, had surgery and did my rehab," Mikel said on the club's official website.[LNB]"I just put my head down and knew I had to work twice as hard as the other players to get myself ready for the start of the season.[LNB]"I feel like it is paying off and I don't want to stop, I want to keep going and working hard in training.[LNB]"If you speak to the guys they will tell you I work as hard as anyone else on the training pitch, maybe harder and I just want to keep going like this."[LNB]Chelsea will be expected to put Stoke to the sword again on Saturday, with confidence flowing in the dressing room.[LNB]Mikel added: "We all have a good understanding at the moment, they all know when to go and when to come in. I think it's pretty much working out as we want it to all the time.[LNB]"We know we are not going to score six every game, if you manage one and get three points it is all we need, but at the moment it is enjoyable to be a part of it and playing, and I hope it keeps going like this."
