John Terry names the ex-Chelsea teammate who could still play in Premier League

Joining talkSPORT Breakfast for an hour alongside Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor, Terry reflected on his remarkable Chelsea career, and one name stood out: John Obi Mikel.

Terry spoke with genuine admiration for the midfielder, with whom he shared 11 years at Stamford Bridge with.

"He was brilliant," Terry said on talkSPORT Breakfast.

"To have him in front of me playing was brilliant. He covered so much ground.

"I still play in ex-legends games now and he can still play. He could still play in the Premier League today. He had it all, didn't he?

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"Those holding midfielders like Makelele get recognised. Certain players in that role don't get the credit they deserve. And Obi was one of them."

Mikel's Chelsea journey was nothing short of remarkable, spanning from 2006 to 2017.

His initial arrival was steeped in controversy, ignited by a dramatic transfer saga with Manchester United that kept everyone talking.

In April 2005, Obi appeared set to join United, even posing in their shirt—but things took a twist when he revealed he felt pressured into that decision and truly favored Chelsea.

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This sparked a dispute that brought FIFA into the mix, leading Chelsea to pay Manchester United a significant £12 million compensation fee, along with a payment to his former club Lyn Oslo, turning his signature into one of the most sensational transfers of the time.

Despite a rocky start, Mikel soon became a beloved and reliable defensive midfielder under various managers, known for his calmness under pressure and poise on the ball, quickly establishing himself as an essential part of the Chelsea midfield.

During his illustrious tenure at Stamford Bridge, Mikel collected an impressive array of silverware, being a key member of the squad that clinched two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the League Cup, the UEFA Champions League in 2012, and the UEFA Europa League in 2013.

Mikel retired from football in 2022, and at the time he shared on social media: "There is a saying that 'all good things must come to an end', and for my professional football career, that day is today."

When Mikel joined talkSPORT previously, he spoke of Rafa Benitez's time as Chelsea boss, which Chelsea fans may not remember fondly.

Chelsea supporters harboured little affection for Benitez, primarily due to his replacement of the adored Di Matteo, which led to unrest and protests within the fanbase.

Despite winning the Europa League and finishing in the top four, he never gained the support of the Chelsea fans.

Mikel recounted: "There was something about Rafa and the fans; they just didn't take to him."

"There was a similar sentiment with the players—we didn't fully accept him as one of us."

He elaborated on the tension surrounding John Terry, who found himself sidelined.

"When Rafa came in, he had the uncomfortable task of explaining to JT why he wasn't playing as much as he wanted."

The mood in the dressing room was undeniably charged, as Mikel described the dynamic among the players.

"The players definitely had influence; I think JT, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Petr Cech all played pivotal roles in the dressing room. They voiced their concerns if they felt a manager wasn't meeting the players' needs or if they weren't enjoying their football."

When Jim White asked if Roman Abramovich knew the players were essentially steering the ship, Mikel responded with a laugh, "Yeah, he knew."

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Terry has since revisited the tumultuous period under Benitez on The Obi Wan Podcast, sharing the moment when his own frustrations came to a head.

"We played Man City in the FA Cup, I think it was the quarter-final and he wasn't playing me.

"We were at loggerheads. We were arguing on the training pitch and he was leaving me out of the team, leaving me off the bench and everything, but I insisted on travelling with the team.

"I was on the bench against Man City and I think we lost 2-1 but we came in after the game and he addressed the group and said, 'Ah guys it doesn't matter, we've got another big game at the weekend'.

"At the time you could feel that Man City were doing something and I'd just had enough.

"I was like 'f***ing hell, that's accepted? No chance that's accepted. He accepted us losing to Man City and I was across the dressing room coming towards him and all of the lads are pulling me back and he's now walking towards me and we're trying to get at each other.

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"I was like 'no, that's not accepted at Chelsea - maybe at Liverpool, it's accepted to lose a quarter-final but at Chelsea, that's not accepted'."

John Terry was speaking on Chelsea and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Watch every game from the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN for free. Sign up today.