I’ve had a very good season - Mikel

Saliu Gbadamosi, with Agency reports - 14.05.2008

NIGERIAN international, Mikel John Obi believes the season has been very good for him and his club despite Chelsea's inability to win the English Premiership title.

Defending champion, Manchester United waited till the last day of the Premiership season to retain its title after defeating Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the JJB Stadium, while Chelsea, which had delayed the Red Devils' glorious day till Sunday failed to beat visiting Bolton, which forced it to a 1-1 draw.

This notwithstanding, the Nigerian midfielder said Chelsea had had a good season, insisting, however, that the season could end on a high for the Blues only if they beat Manchester United on May 21 in Moscow in the UEFA Champions League final.

"It has been a very good season, but it can only end on a high if we win the Champions League, and we believe we can," the young Nigerian was quoted by SportingLife.com.

Mikel said Chelsea was poised to repeat what it did last year when it beat Sir Alex Ferguson's United in the FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium, after losing the Premiership to the Red Devils, in the Russian capital, Moscow, later this month.

"We will keep working hard until the final and make sure we win the Champions League. "Last year, they won the league and we beat them in the FA Cup final. They have won the league again but we know that we're good enough to beat them," he said.

He, however, admitted that United was a good side but insisted the Avrant Grant side would be up to the task in Moscow.

"They're a very good side, we all know that, but we have to focus on the day. I think we're going to win it."

Meanwhile, Mikel is also praying captain John Terry recovers from the dislocated elbow he suffered in the match against Bolton at Stamford Bridge in time to play in Moscow.

Terry underwent another scan on his damaged arm on Monday and, with a period of rest, he is hoping to be fit enough to start.

"John is a very important player for the team," added Mikel. "We all pray and hope he will be fit for the final. When you look at Chelsea, we are all big players, but when people want us to stand up for ourselves, we always do that.

"I'm a young player, I respect the big players for what they've done. When we've needed them to do something, they have done.