Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes the club’s UEFA Europa Conference League triumph could be the catalyst for building strong unity and chemistry within the current squad.
The Nigerian, who spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge and won multiple titles, expressed his joy after watching the Blues lift the trophy following their 4-1 victory over Real Betis in Wroclaw last week.
Reflecting on the importance of silverware to squad morale and togetherness, Mikel told The Sun that consistent success during his playing days played a key role in forging close bonds between teammates — something he feels the current Chelsea side can replicate through recent success.
“We enjoyed good times together. We went out to central London every time we won a trophy,” he said. “We celebrated quite heavily because we were successful and were given a licence to go out and enjoy ourselves.”
According to the former Nigeria international, winning trophies goes beyond adding to the club’s cabinet — it fosters a winning culture and helps players connect more deeply off the pitch.
“That brought that chemistry together because every year, every other year, we had something to celebrate,” Mikel explained.
“We were always winning something. So we were always having a massive party come the end of the season. That brought us together.”
Having observed Chelsea’s recent struggles with consistency and cohesion, the 37-year-old believes that the Europa Conference League success could serve as a springboard for rebuilding the type of camaraderie that defined Chelsea’s golden era.
“They have to win trophies in order to be able to bring that chemistry in the squad,” Mikel added, stressing the role of shared victories in cementing relationships among players.
