Mikel Obi has warned Chelsea fans Dutchman Guus Hiddink is not a miracle worker, calling on his Blues teammates to redouble their efforts towards securing a top-four finish.
After 19 games, the 2012 UEFA Champions League winners have won only five games and lost nine times to occupy the 14th place in the Premier League standings on 20 points, 15 points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham in the final Champions League spot.
But Mikel has refused to give up on hopes of finishing in the top four, despite holders Blues sitting in an unusual position in the table.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich fired Jose Mourinho on December 17 following the club’s dismal run in the league and replaced the Portuguese with the club’s former caretaker manager Hiddink.
The 2013 Europa League champions have not won any games under Hiddink. Chelsea drew 2-2 against Watford on Boxing Day and battled to a goalless draw against equally struggling Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday.
Chelsea face fifth-placed Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday and Mikel is backing the Blues to run out winners.
The South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, who was reduced to a bit-part player under Mourinho, is backing Hiddink to turn around the club’s fortunes.
“He (Hiddink) hasn’t changed much yet but he was here before and he knows the place and all the staff,” theguardian.com quoted the Super Eagles midfielder as saying on Wednesday.
“The players are different – only me and John Terry were here before – but he knows what to do. We’re down there in the table for a reason so he can’t come in and perform miracles but we want to get out of there and climb the table. We’ve had three games now without losing so are making the right steps.”
Mikel, who admitted it would be difficult for Chelsea to retain their title, said they would fight for a Champions League place.
“Top four? I don’t think it’s gone,” Daily Mail quoted the 28-year-old as saying.
“We’ve got lots of games to catch up and if we keep going in this direction and keeping clean sheets, we will definitely score goals.”
Mikel paid tribute to Mourinho, saying the former Real Madrid boss “is a fantastic manager”.
“Jose is a fantastic manager and he will always be a fantastic guy. Sometimes football is a cruel game, you have to move on,” he told theguardian.com.
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