It’s a do-or-die affair - Mikel

13.05.2008

SUPER Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel admits Chelsea must win the Champions League to save its season. Defeat to Manchester United in Moscow on May 21 would leave the Blues empty-handed this term.

That is despite Avram Grant’s side reaching the Carling Cup final and taking the Premier League title race to a deciding day. Mikel, 21, said: “It is going to be do or die — we have to win.

“There can be nothing short of winning the Champions League — we have to win it.” Mikel has also revealed Chelsea knew the score from Manchester United’s match with Wigan during its draw with Bolton.

But he insists it did not change how the team played. The midfielder said: “Going to the game we didn’t know what was going to happen but we went into the game with one goal — to win.

“At the end of the first half and second half we knew the results but I don’t think it affected anything. “We went in there to win but it didn’t come our way and at the end of the day Manchester United won and they won the title. “Fair play to them and fair play to Chelsea as well- we did a very good job.”