Former Chelsea and Super Hawks captain John Obi Mikel told Jamie Carragher that he could be “disappointed” after experts’ comments on the Cup of Nations.
Carragher has been criticized for downplaying criticism from the African Cup of Nations, claiming it was not a major tournament, while discussing the chances of Mohamed Salah winning the ball D’OR this year.
Speaking at Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City, Carragher suggested that Salah’s nationality and Egypt’s international record could hinder his chances of winning the best individual award for football.
“I think the problem [is] The fact that he is with Egypt, and he may not be in a big game, or there may be a great chance of winning. ”
“I think it’s a Champions League or a big tournament. Usually, like Vini Jr. and (Kylian) Mbappe, who are good players in this regard, Real Madrid looks really good in the Champions League.”
“I think it’s a Champions League or a big tournament.
His remarks immediately sparked opposition with former Manchester City defender Micah Richards, quickly correcting that he was indeed a prestigious game.
“Just say, AFCON is a big game because a lot of people at home say ‘they aren’t taking it seriously’. AFCON is a big game, you know.”
Mikel said on the Obi One podcast: “What he said is so disrespectful, it comes from someone who has never won any international big competition with England.
His statement is absolutely wrong. I hope he will come out and apologize because he owe people around the world apologies. [It was] I don’t know how to disrespect such a great game.
If you think the Premier League will be what it is today, it is the British player you are going to laugh at.
‘The silly smile on the face, the silly smile on the arrogant face and fired… the silly smile on the face definitely disappointed me. You have people trying to correct you and you come out and absolutely attack everyone else and discredit this wonderful game.
“That guy said a lot on TV, never won the Premier League, analyzing the team and telling them you have to win the Premier League.
“You have never won a win game, you don’t know what it takes to win the Premier League, you don’t know how to win with the national team. You can’t discredit such a great, wonderful game. People in Africa died in the African Cup of Nations.
“I’m angry, I’m angry, he spent many years playing at Liverpool, he didn’t win the Premier League. He sat there week by week, telling and teaching people to try to tell people how to win the Premier League. You didn’t win.
Africans are watching you over the weekend, you sit there, open your mouth, discredit the entire continent and say your African national championship is ***. That has no value because it is not the Euro or the Copa America. He can lose it. We know that in Africa we bring to the Premier League.
“If you won the euro with England, I might understand, if you won a big game with England, I might understand. You won the F*** with England. Fall. Are you trying to discredit the game I won, bleeding and tears?
During his career, Mikel won the African Cup of Nations as early as 2013 and finished second in two separate times.
