My torment is behind me, says Mikel

"Last week was a bad week," he sighed as he reflected on the blows which will probably come to define his first season in English football.

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But, despite crashing out of the Champions League in the semi-final and dropping points in the championship race, Mikel feels more contented today than he has for years.

The turbulent journey he began when he left Nigeria four years ago has finally settled exactly where he hoped it would — in the Chelsea first team.

Just turned 20, he could be a midfield fixture at Stamford Bridge for years and, with his natural talent, can expect wonderful highs to erase the sickening disappointment of losing at Liverpool.

"It was the worst moment of my season," said Mikel. "I knew what that Cup meant to everyone at the club. To be knocked out by the same team again, Liverpool, was hard to take.

"Before the game, the boss told us we couldn't afford to go out in the semi-finals again.

"He doesn't believe there is anything called losing and I think that's the right attitude. When we lose, it's like the end of the world for everyone."

Jose Mourinho's patience was tested early in the season by Mikel, who was sent to play for the reserves instead of joining the first team for a Champions League game in Barcelona because he had been late for training.

"I had some problems with my discipline," admitted Mikel. "I had to question myself and correct myself. Mr Mourinho was upset with me and he had a point. It was my fault. I take the blame."

On the field, there were adjustments to the English game, too. Mikel was sent off on his first Premiership start, at Reading, and dismissed again after coming on as substitute in the Carling Cup Final.

But gradually his football started to do the talking and Mikel imposed himself with his poise, vision and range of passing.

In the second half of the season, his form has been so impressive that Claude Makelele is no longer considered an automatic choice as Mourinho's holding midfielder.

Mikel said: "The boss loves to use me in the holding position. You can be the man in control because you actually see everything on the pitch. You're always facing the play."

It is no surprise that Mikel's best form emerged as he became more comfortable in his new environment and cleared his mind of the transfer saga, which started after his 18th birthday in April 2005, when Manchester United declared they had signed him from Lyn Oslo.

It dragged on for 14 months, until he joined Chelsea, who agreed to pay £4million to Lyn and £12m to United.

There was an ugly series of claims and counter-claims as the story unfolded with allegations of forgeries, death threats and kidnapping swirling around a teenager who just wanted to play football.

Mikel said: "It was a really difficult period for me. I spent a year and two months without playing football.

"I tried to keep myself fit by running every day. But it was a difficult not being in a team.

"I've tried to forget about it. For me, as a person and as a footballer, I've made the right choice coming to Chelsea and now I'm here, I hope to stay a long time.

"I've got a long-term contract. I love London. I love the weather and I love the people."

Despite the drama surrounding his club football, Mikel won the Silver Ball as the second-best player at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships, in Holland, behind Lionel Messi.

His senior international debut soon followed and he was selected for the finals of the African Nations Cup and the World Cup.

"I didn't learn how to play football," he said. "It was in my blood. My father was a good player. So I grew up with football.

"I knew it would be my career from the age of 10 but I never knew it would happen so quickly, to be playing at this level in the best team you could ever want to be in."

Mikel hails from Jos, a small city in the Nigerian interior, where the altitude takes the edge off the equatorial temperatures.

"The weather is like England," he said with a smile. One brother, Ebele, 22, is a goalkeeper for Rangers FC in Nigeria and another, Tochukwu, 16, is a midfielder attracting interest from big clubs, including Chelsea.

Mikel said: "It's important people don't forget where they've come from. I know how the system is in Nigeria.

"It's difficult for people to live with the corruption and I will always try to make sure my family lack nothing.

"I wasn't born with a silver spoon. My family were OK but we were not wealthy. We had good times and difficult times."

Father Michael remains a powerful influence. "He always calls me and gives me advice," said Mikel. "Advice from your dad is the best advice you can get."

Mikel left home at 16 moving from his local team Plateau United — where ex-Chelsea full back Celestine Babayaro also started — to South Africa and then to Oslo and London.

He said: "Chelsea saw me in an Under 17 tournament in Finland. But I knew I would have to wait for some years before I came to England.

"I've had some problems but they've all passed now and my best is still to come.

"It has been a wonderful season for someone who is only just 20. We just have to forget about Anfield.

"We have Arsenal and Manchester United next and we can win the FA Cup. We must give everything. We can't afford to lose any more titles."

Interview courtesy of SEM Group