Mikel reveals Chelsea boss Conte shouts a lot in training

Chelsea‘s John Obi Mikel has revealed that manager Antonio Conte often shouts in training but the midfielder insisted that the Italian is a “lovely” person.

Mikel earned a silver medal with his country at the Rio Olympics but since his return he has not played for the Blues as N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic have been handed the opportunity to strike up a partnership as the two holding central midfielders.

The Nigerian also believes that Conte has made a huge impression on the Chelsea dressing room, and is the right person to bring success back to the club.

Mikel, when asked by Goal, if Conte shouts a lot, responded by saying: “Yes, [Conte shouts a lot] in training. In games I don’t even need to say, you can see how passionate he is and how passionate he is about winning, it is just the passion he has for the game and the way he thinks that he can get his message across to the players on the pitch.

“I have never seen anyone that passionate, but yes, he is very, very passionate about winning games. I think it is probably more than 10 managers? 11 managers, or 12 maybe, I think so [laughs]. But yes, Antonio is a really lovely guy. I have spoken to him a few times now and the person you see on the touchline is the person you see totally outside the football pitch, he is a nice person.

“A lovely guy to talk to and he listens to what you say. I don’t think any player has a problem telling him how they feel because I think he listens quite a lot and I think it helps that he also played football and he knows what we go through and players like to be listened to sometimes, and I think that Antonio does that really well.”

Mikel, who joined Chelsea from Norwegian side Lyn in 2006 and has since become a household name in English football, has witnessed 12 managers come and go during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The 29-year-old may find it difficult to work his way into Conte’s starting XI given that Cesc Fabregas is also vying for a place in the side, but the midfielder can always be trusted to come into the side and steady the Blues’ midfield.