Mikel John Obi hopes ‘magical’ Nigeria Olympic bronze medal won’t make Chelsea team-mates jealous

Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi says he hopes that the Bronze medal won by Nigeria at Rio 2016 doesn’t make his Chelsea teammates jealous seeing that none of them won anything at the Olympics.

“When I woke up in my hotel roomon Sundaymorning, I opened my eyes to see my Olympic bronze medal lying there beside me.’ he said speaking to UK Standard. ‘It just hammered home to me what I had achieved with the rest of my Nigeria team-mates the day before.’

‘We beat Honduras 3-2 to get the bronze and secure Nigeria’s first Olympics medal in any sport since 2008.

‘All of us went into the game knowing this and it put extra pressure on the squad to perform.

‘This experience has given me the hunger to do it again at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. I will be only 33 then and my game will still be at a high level.’

‘I enjoyed every minute of being in Brazil and I have been talking to the other guys about playing in another Olympics. I’m already looking forward to it and the countdown is on!

‘I might take the medal to the Chelsea training ground to show to the other players – I hope I don’t make them jealous though!

It’s also provided me with a nice lift as I return to Chelsea. I will go back to see the manager [Antonio Conte] and see what his plans are for me.’

‘I want to get back into training and prove myself. I want to play and help the team to win games.’

‘I know it will be difficult because I have missed most of pre-season and the coach has a new way of playing.
But it is a positive thing for me that I have been playing well out here in Brazil and I’m in good shape.’

I will need a few days off first because this tournament has been so draining. I arrive back in Londonon Wednesdaymorning and the game against Burnleyon Saturdaywill come too early to feature in.’

‘The plan is to have a little break, which is why the timing couldn’t be better as the season stops for two weeks for international fixtures after the Burnley game anyway.’

‘It will give me plenty of time to enjoy my bronze medal and reflect on what has been a magical few weeks in my football career.’