Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel has opened up on what caused the training ground row between Samuel Eto’o and Kevin De Bruyne during the 2013-2014 season at Chelsea.
The Belgium international is now one of the best players in the Premier League but things did not work out for him at Chelsea, with the attacking midfielder making nine appearances in all competitions before he was sold by the Blues in 2014.
Another current Premier League star brought to Stamford Bridge by the then technical director Michael Emenalo, Mohamed Salah was also a misfit at Chelsea and was eventually sold to AS Roma, from where he moved to Liverpool in 2017.
Chelsea have been criticized for not seeing the potential in both players but Mikel has defended his former club, saying that De Bruyne had a poor attitude in training which might have contributed to the Blues’ decision to part company with the midfielder.
A Champions League winner with Chelsea in 2012, Mikel is pleasantly surprised that De Bruyne and Salah took their game to another level after they were declared surplus to requirements by the west London club.
Speaking on the The Obi One Podcast, Mikel said: “Back then we looked at their levels as well. If you can agree with me, Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t the best trainer back then.
“He was somebody that comes to training, probably because he wasn’t playing that much, he was always head down, always angry. He was like a kid who came to the playground and nobody wants to play with him.
“I remember when Samuel Eto’o had a go at him, they had a massive fight in the training ground just because he wasn’t putting in the effort that Samuel Eto’o wanted and they had a massive row on the pitch.
“We didn’t expect them to be where they are today but credit to them. They have gone away and they’ve done what they had to do. They have improved, they have become who they are today, superstars.
“When I watch Kevin De Bruyne play today, I am like is this the same guy?”
