We must beat Shakhtar – Mikel

Nigeria’s Mikel Obi has said that his English club side Chelsea need to win Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk to get their campaign back on track. Last month, the European champions were beaten 2-1 by Shakhtar in Ukraine. The loss pulled down Chelsea to the second spot in the group table with four points – behind Shakhtar, who have seven points.

 Italian champions Juventus who secured a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Day One of the competition are third with three points from as many matches, while Danish champions Nordsjaelland prop up Group E with a point.

Mikel who has remained on global headlines for more than a week following his spat with referee Mark Clattengurg strongly believes that the match against the group leaders at Stamford Bridge is crucial in their quest to go beyond the group stage of the competition.

“This is a game we must win, we are second, but we want to reclaim top spot and beating Shakhtar is a sure way to achieve that,” the Nigeria midfielder told MTNFootball.com.

“We know they are no push over, they are a strong team and we need to be at our best to beat them. We have to defend as a unit and utilise our goal scoring chances. It will be tough but we are ready for the battle.”

On Sunday Mikel was listed in the top-10 cadre for the 2012 African Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football. The midfielder is also aware that he has to play at top form in the remaining games this period to stay positive in the minds of the voting officials as the December 20 date draws nearer for the best footballer on the continent this year. He is the only Nigerian left from the original 34-man list drawn up last month for the continent’s most prestigious award. Victor Moses and John Utaka were listed originally.

Chelsea have to play at their best to beat the Ukrainian team well spiced with Brazilian imports. The East Europeans did prove that they had a lot to offer with their output in the first leg in Ukraine. Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo has twice told reports that Mikel and his teammates are not suffering any emotional effects from the controversy created by the Clattenburg affair.

The Punch