Rohr clarifies comments on Mikel Chelsea situation, hails the Super Eagles captain as a ‘true leader’

On the back of the victory of Nigeria’s national team over their Algerian counterparts in the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier, the Nigerian coach has spoken highly on the role of the captain Obi Mikel in the victory.

Chelsea star Mikel captained and played a sterling role in the 3-1 triumph over the Algerians in Uyo, Nigeria on Saturday.

‘He played like a true leader’, he said ‘he commended the respect of the team, marshalling and putting so much energy into the effort of the team’.

Rohr also sought to clarify the statement credited to him where he was said to have alleged that Mikel was being “punished” by his club for representing Nigeria in the Olympic Games.

“I was quoted out of context. Perhaps the word ‘punish’ might have come too strongly. But I meant it in a larger sense of the price he is paying for his participation in the Olympics’.

Gernot Rohr contended that he, having been a club manager himself for years, could never openly criticise the actions of any club in dealing with their players.

‘What I was trying to say was that we should all acknowledge the commitment of the team captain to the national team and the price that he might have had to pay, missing action for his club in the time he was in the Olympics’ he clarified