Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Antonio Conte is punishing him for his decision to play at the Olympics with Nigeria.
The 29-year-old has not made an appearance this season, having been frozen out of the first team since his return from Rio de Janeiro, where he claimed a bronze medal.
Nigeria’s technical adviser Gernot Rohr claimed that Conte has deliberately kept Mikel out of his plans as a result of his decision to forgo their pre- season plans in favour of playing at the Olympics.
Mikel is adamant he would not trade that experience for a chance to get back into the Chelsea side, but he feels that such a stance has made him something of a pariah to his manager.
“I have never been a guy who makes excuses in life and never shy away from responsibilities,” the former Lyn man, who scored in Nigeria’s 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Algeria on Saturday, told The Sun.
“Yes, maybe people will say the new manager was upset I left and went to the Olympics, that I didn’t have a pre-season with the team. He probably thinks I don’t care about the team, things like that.
“But I don’t want to use those excuses. I have to keep training hard and make sure I change the manager’s mind. If not, then we’ll see what happens in January.
“But, no, I would never swap my Olympic medal for a place back in the Chelsea team. One thing you have to do in life as a man is that when you make a decision, or a sacrifice, you have to deal with it.
“I have not one single regret in going to the Olympics. And I will not trade my medal for anything.”
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