‘He just wasn’t a manager’… John Obi Mikel tears into former Chelsea boss who had no clue

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Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has not minced his words when speaking about one of his former managers on his podcast.

John Obi Mikel was discussing Avram Grant’s time at Chelsea on The Obi One Podcast and did not hold back.

Grant succeeded Jose Mourinho after the Portuguese’s shock departure in 2007 and took Chelsea to their first ever Champions League final.

However, he was sacked at the end of the 2007/08 campaign after failing to win the Champions League and the Premier League, with Manchester United coming out as victors in both competitions.

John Obi Mikel criticises Avram Grant

Mikel feels that Grant was never a manager, with the Israeli initially arriving at Stamford Bridge as a director of football.

Speaking about his former boss on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel said: “He just wasn’t a manager. He was not a manager because he had no clue of what he was doing. He absolutely had no clue.

“He had a manager, he has somebody who does the training and who does the tactics and all he does is just comes and tells us stories about Michael Jordan and a fire that is somewhere burning somewhere!”

John Obi Mikel’s assessment harsh

Grant took Chelsea to their first ever Champions League final and had John Terry converted his penalty, the Blues would have won the trophy on that rainy night in Moscow.

When you consider that, and the fact that they finished second in the Premier League that season, Mikel’s words feel quite harsh.

It really goes to show, though, how high the standard was at Chelsea those days.

Fast forward to now, and you have a Chelsea side that would view coming fourth as an achievement. They are a young team, however, and the Premier League is much more competitive at the top than it was when Grant was managing in England.

Going forward, we just hope Mauricio Pochettino can turn the team into one that is capable of challenging for the title again. Looking at where the club currently are, though, it could take a lot of time.

For now, then, top four will be the aim, which is why beating Newcastle United, one of their rivals for Champions League qualification, this Saturday is important.