JOHN OBI MIKEL has warned Chelsea will take
revenge for losing out on the title by winning the Champions
League. The Blues midfielder is ready to sour Manchester United’s
celebrations by beating them in Moscow next week.
Mikel, 21, said: “We know what happened last year when
United won the league but we beat them in the FA Cup final. Now we
need to repeat that. “We have to keep working hard and make sure
that Moscow is a whole different ball game. “United have won the
title so we have to go there and win the Champions League. It’s
going to be do or die — but we have to win.”
The Londoners have become one of United’s bogey teams
since Roman Abramovich bought the Blues. In the last 14 games
against Alex Ferguson’s side, Chelsea have won seven, drawn five
and lost just two.
Mikel added: “We know we are more than good enough to
win in Russia but we have to work harder. “They’re a very good side
— we all know that — but we have to wait and see what happens in
the final. I think we will win it.” Mikel admits the pain of
missing out in the Premier League will drive on the Blues.
Bolton snatched a last-gasp equaliser at Chelsea on
Sunday just moments after Ryan Giggs slotted United’s title
clincher at Wigan.
Mikel added: “There is a mixture of frustration and
determination. It was a difficult game. “We knew how Bolton play
and we knew coming into the game it was going to be difficult. "We
can now think about Moscow but we didn’t want to speak about it too
much on Sunday.
“What mattered after the Bolton game was to thank the
fans. “We will now get down to thinking about the final. We have to
keep working hard and win the Champions League.”
Chelsea’s season was hit by drawing seven games at
Stamford Bridge. They also conceded late goals to Everton,
Tottenham, Wigan as well as Bolton. Mikel admitted: “When you keep
dropping points, you can’t expect to be at the top. “We’ve dropped
a lot of points this season. Hopefully, the next campaign will not
be like this.
“There have been a few times when we have lost
concentration. It cost us two points again in the Bolton match. We
have to correct that and make sure it doesn’t happen again. “But we
have an excellent chance to finish the season on a perfect high if
we win the Champions League. We believe we can do that.”