Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has revealed the intense rivalry that existed between Chelsea and Arsenal during Jose Mourinho’s first spell at Stamford Bridge, claiming players were discouraged from even shaking hands with their opponents.
Softfootball understands that Mikel made the revelation on The Obi One Podcast, where he reflected on Mourinho’s fierce competitive mentality and his long-running rivalry with former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.
According to the former Chelsea midfielder, Mourinho created an atmosphere in which every encounter with Arsenal was treated as a battle, both mentally and physically.
Mikel explained that the Portuguese manager would closely observe his players before matches and would not have appreciated anyone greeting Arsenal players in the tunnel, as he wanted his squad fully focused on the rivalry.
He also recalled how Mourinho used his pre-match press conferences to apply psychological pressure on Wenger, believing the mind games gave Chelsea an advantage even before kickoff.
After speaking to the media, Mourinho would reportedly return to the dressing room and challenge his players to back up his words by dominating Arsenal on the pitch.
Mikel added that the Chelsea boss often referred to Arsenal’s squad as “kids,” using the label as extra motivation for his players before one of English football’s fiercest London derbies.
