Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi: This forward was my toughest opponent
CHELSEA midfielder Mikel John Obi has revealed Alessandro Del Piero was the toughest opponent he ever faced.
Chelsea vs Everton - Premier League match preview
Mikel John Obi has spent 10 years with Chelsea and has lined up against some of the best players in word football in that time.
However, the 29-year-old believes his toughest ever test was against former Juventus forward Del Piero.
“I think Alessandro Del Piero was the best,” Mikel told FourFourTwo magazine.
Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi says his toughest opponent was Alessandro Del Piero
Alessandro Del Piero was a tough test for Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi
“I played against him a couple of times when he was at Juventus.
“He was close to retirement, but he just was so clever, he was finding space behind me every time to get the ball.
Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi and Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero compete for the ball
“I’d think ‘I’ve got him’ but then he’d just do something.
“I was inexperienced, he was very experienced, and he was just too clever for me.
“I was trying to beat him with energy, but he could beat me with his head.”
Del Piero made over 500 Serie A appearances for Juve between 1993 and 2012, scoring 208 times.
Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?