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I won the Premier League twice and only two active players get in my all-time XI
John Obi Mikel spent 11 years at Chelsea, encountering legends both old and new. Arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2006 and leaving in 2017, the Nigerian finds himself in a unique position to name an all-time Premier League XI. From John Terry and Frank Lampard to Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba, Mikel found himself among legends and became one himselfGetty Two-time title-winner Mikel played with and against the nostalgic icons: Hall of Famers who take us back to the height of Barclays. But by the end of his top-flight career, Mikel was sharing the pitch with today’s heroes: superstars who are still playing at the top level. With so much debate around whether anyone in today’s game can hold a candle to the legends of the past, we put it to someone who knows both eras. And this is what he came up with… Goalkeeper: Petr Cech Mikel explained: “I was going to go Peter Schmeichel, but I’m going to go with Petr Cech. “It’s too hard to leave Cech out. He has the most clean sheets in Premier League history.” The role of the goalkeeper has evolved over time – but back when their job was to stop the ball hitting the net – Cech did that 202 times. However, if you think this will become a Chelsea love-in, you are only half-right. There are some notable omissions to come… Right-back: Kyle Walker One of only two active Premier League stars in this all-time XI currently plays for Burnley. Of course, Walker is included for his exploits at Manchester City, where he won the title six times. Nobody could get past Walker at the peak of his powersGetty Pep Guardiola summed it up best before City’s reunion with Walker in September. “Absolutely, one of the greatest full-backs ever,” he said. “I slept like a baby before games with Kyle there. “He can handle top, top-class wingers in the world.” Centre-back: John Terry “I’m obviously going to go with my captain, my leader: John Terry,” Mikel explained. OK. There are quite a few Chelsea players. As you would expect. But despite his blue bias, this is hardly controversial. Terry was the unrivalled leader of Chelsea’s greatest-ever teams, guiding them to five titles, and scoring more goals than any other defender in history. Centre-back: Tony Adams With Terry all-but guaranteed to be included, picking his partner was the real dilemma – and Mikel came up with what could be considered a surprise choice. Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Virgil van Dijk were all left out in favour of Arsenal legend Tony Adams – as Mikel opted to select a player before his time. The former midfielder said: “Rio was fantastic, absolutely amazing. But what Tony Adams did for Arsenal, just the way he played, he was a unit, he was strong, he was aggressive. “I like my centre-backs like that. The ones who know when to step out and give the striker no time. Because that’s the most difficult thing.” He added: “I just don’t think Virgil would be as good as he is right now [if he played in that era]. Mikel thinks Van Dijk would find life tougher in the previous eraGetty “Take nothing away from the strikers we have right now. But the strikers that we played with back in the day – Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba – they add muscle. “Take nothing away from Van Dijk. He’s a brilliant defender, but I just think in that era, he would have had more problems with those guys.” Left-back: Ashley Cole Mikel explained: “Ashley Cole has to be there. For me, the best left back in Premier League. “Patrice Evra? Patrice is my friend, but no, Ashley is just so good. What he did for Chelsea, Arsenal as well…” Notable mentions could also go to Denis Irwin, and perhaps Andy Robertson from the modern era. But Cole is almost-always considered the best there was in his position on these shores. Right-midfield: Mohamed Salah The second active Premier League player to make the team is Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah. But this one comes with a caveat. Mikel said: “What Salah has done is incredible. “He’s breaking records upon records upon records. But what I would have just loved to see Salah do a bit more is in big games. “I think in big games, he could affect the game a bit more for Liverpool. “But the records are there. Take nothing away from him. For me, he’s incredible.” Salah is an all-time Premier League legend – but is experiencing some rare struggles in front of goal this season Central-midfield: Paul Scholes Spoiler alert: there is no room for Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Steven Gerrard – or Mikel’s old midfield partner Frank Lampard – in this XI. Manchester United legend Scholes gets the nod as Mikel’s playmaker. He added: “Let me just say, if I was going to go 4-3-3, my three players would have been Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard. “I just think they’re all very similar.” Cen
John Obi Mikel spent 11 years at Chelsea, encountering legends both old and new.
Arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2006 and leaving in 2017, the Nigerian finds himself in a unique position to name an all-time Premier League XI.
Two-time title-winner Mikel played with and against the nostalgic icons: Hall of Famers who take us back to the height of Barclays.
But by the end of his top-flight career, Mikel was sharing the pitch with today’s heroes: superstars who are still playing at the top level.
With so much debate around whether anyone in today’s game can hold a candle to the legends of the past, we put it to someone who knows both eras.
And this is what he came up with…
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Mikel explained: “I was going to go Peter Schmeichel, but I’m going to go with Petr Cech.
“It’s too hard to leave Cech out. He has the most clean sheets in Premier League history.”
The role of the goalkeeper has evolved over time – but back when their job was to stop the ball hitting the net – Cech did that 202 times.
However, if you think this will become a Chelsea love-in, you are only half-right. There are some notable omissions to come…
Right-back: Kyle Walker
One of only two active Premier League stars in this all-time XI currently plays for Burnley.
Of course, Walker is included for his exploits at Manchester City, where he won the title six times.
Pep Guardiola summed it up best before City’s reunion with Walker in September.
“Absolutely, one of the greatest full-backs ever,” he said. “I slept like a baby before games with Kyle there.
“He can handle top, top-class wingers in the world.”
Centre-back: John Terry
“I’m obviously going to go with my captain, my leader: John Terry,” Mikel explained.
OK. There are quite a few Chelsea players. As you would expect.
But despite his blue bias, this is hardly controversial.
Terry was the unrivalled leader of Chelsea’s greatest-ever teams, guiding them to five titles, and scoring more goals than any other defender in history.
Centre-back: Tony Adams
With Terry all-but guaranteed to be included, picking his partner was the real dilemma – and Mikel came up with what could be considered a surprise choice.
Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Virgil van Dijk were all left out in favour of Arsenal legend Tony Adams – as Mikel opted to select a player before his time.
The former midfielder said: “Rio was fantastic, absolutely amazing. But what Tony Adams did for Arsenal, just the way he played, he was a unit, he was strong, he was aggressive.
“I like my centre-backs like that. The ones who know when to step out and give the striker no time. Because that’s the most difficult thing.”
He added: “I just don’t think Virgil would be as good as he is right now [if he played in that era].
“Take nothing away from the strikers we have right now. But the strikers that we played with back in the day – Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba – they add muscle.
“Take nothing away from Van Dijk. He’s a brilliant defender, but I just think in that era, he would have had more problems with those guys.”
Left-back: Ashley Cole
Mikel explained: “Ashley Cole has to be there. For me, the best left back in Premier League.
“Patrice Evra? Patrice is my friend, but no, Ashley is just so good. What he did for Chelsea, Arsenal as well…”
Notable mentions could also go to Denis Irwin, and perhaps Andy Robertson from the modern era.
But Cole is almost-always considered the best there was in his position on these shores.
Right-midfield: Mohamed Salah
The second active Premier League player to make the team is Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah.
But this one comes with a caveat.
Mikel said: “What Salah has done is incredible.
“He’s breaking records upon records upon records. But what I would have just loved to see Salah do a bit more is in big games.
“I think in big games, he could affect the game a bit more for Liverpool.
“But the records are there. Take nothing away from him. For me, he’s incredible.”
Central-midfield: Paul Scholes
Spoiler alert: there is no room for Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Steven Gerrard – or Mikel’s old midfield partner Frank Lampard – in this XI.
Manchester United legend Scholes gets the nod as Mikel’s playmaker.
He added: “Let me just say, if I was going to go 4-3-3, my three players would have been Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard.
“I just think they’re all very similar.”
Central midfield: N’Golo Kante
Mikel established himself in a long-line of legendary holding midfielders at Stamford Bridge.
After his predecessor Claude Makelele literally invented the role, Mikel was replaced by N’Golo Kante – who redefined it entirely and set new expectations for distance covered in football matches.
Mikel said: “I need somebody who can break up play, and again, we’re talking about one game.
“Over Patrick Vieira, over Roy Keane… I just think I’m going to go N’Golo Kante.”
Left-midfield: Eden Hazard
You had to be there.
Mikel said of his former teammate: “One of the best, best, best players I played with.
“Ryan Giggs? I think Hazard obviously did it for a short period of time, but he was very, very, very good.
“So good. Obviously, the longevity of Giggs, what he did for over 20 years, no one can take that away from him.
“If you talk about longevity of the game, legend of the game, I’ll go with Giggsy.
“But if you’re talking about just sheer quality… it’s Hazard.”
Striker: Didier Drogba
That’s right. Six former Chelsea players make Mikel’s all-time Premier League XI.
So who gets the final spot? Wayne Rooney? Alan Shearer? Harry Kane?
Striker: Thierry Henry
Once again, opting for sheer quality over records and statistics, Mikel opts for a man that could do it all.
He explained: “Henry could play No.10 or No.9 – he was so good on the ball.
“The pace, the power… For two or three years, Henry was unstoppable.
“Nobody could stop Henry. He was that good.”
Mikel’s all-time Premier League XI
