Mikel: I do everything I can for the team to win, responds to Mourinho criticism

Mikel: I do everything I can for the team to win, responds to Mourinho criticism

Nigeria will face Iceland in a must-win game tomorrow in Volgograd.

The Super Eagles lost their first match at the 2018 World cup to Croatia in an underwhelming match.

After the game, coach Gernot Rohr was criticized for his team selections by pundits and fans, former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho joined in the discussion saying 'Nigeria lost a good 6, for a bad 10'.

Jose Mourinho was the coach that brought Mikel to Stamford bridge during his time as their head coach, he was known to be the man that converted the Nigerian captain to a defensive midfielder.

The Manchester United pointed out that Mikel playing in the number 10 role behind Odion Ighalo was bad for the Super Eagles.

Mourinho was speaking as a pundit on Russian TV station RT after the Super Eagles loss to Croatia.

Ahead of Friday's match against Iceland, captain Mikel Obi responded to his former coach saying “It is very fascinating. I played in this position for the last 1 ½ years. Nobody complained. I feel comfortable to play on both positions and I do everything I can for the team to win."

“John Obi Mikel is not a No.10 – he is a No. 6”, said José Mourinho. Mikel responds: “It is very fascinating. I played on this position for the last 1 ½ years. Nobody complained. I feel comfortable to play on both positions and I do everything I can for the team to win." #NGA

— Annette Braun, FIFA (@FIFAWorldCupNGA) June 20, 2018

The former Chelsea midfielder was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he is hopeful and confident that Nigeria can qualify for the next round of the World Cup. “We are very hopeful and confident because everything is still in our own hands. It just depends on how much we want it. The result against Croatia was disappointing but we can fix it.”

“We are very hopeful and confident because everything is still in our own hands. It just depends on how much we want it. The result against Croatia was disappointing but we can fix it.”

John Obi Mikel at today's team press conference#NGA pic.twitter.com/DFaW35qO20

— Annette Braun, FIFA (@FIFAWorldCupNGA) June 20, 2018