Nigeria
midfielder Mikel Obi has apologised for the Champions League blunder
that allowed Juventus to snatch a 2-2 draw against holders Chelsea.
With
just 10 minutes remaining at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Chelsea were
on course to open their title defence with a victory after two goals
from Brazil midfielder Oscar gave them a 2-1 lead over the Italian
champions.
But Mikel carelessly gave the ball away in the build-up to the equalizer and he told Sky Sports after
the game, “I think we switched off. It was a pass to Eden (Hazard) that
didn’t quite get there and then we just switched off.
“We should have dealt with it properly.”
“If I want to make up an excuse, I can,” Mikel said. “But, for me, I gave the ball away. I put my hands up, we move on.
“I’m sorry about the mistake, but there are no excuses.”
The
Nigerian had been encouraged, however, by Chelsea’s energetic beginning
to the match, adding, “I think we started the game well, we scored two
goals and we had more possession of the game. We had the game under
control but they scored one goal.
“We
came out in the second half trying to do something in the way that we
started the first half but their second goal was a cheap goal to give
away.”
It could have been even worse for Chelsea as Quagliarella hit the crossbar with a looping shot just after his equaliser.
Blues
boss Roberto Di Matteo was frustrated with the way his team lost
control after taking a two-goal lead, but he could at least take heart
from Oscar’s virtuoso display on his first start for his new club.
Oscar
arrived from Internacional for £25 million in the close-season and he
underlined his vast potential with a sublime second goal on Wednesday
that saw him turn away from two Juventus markers with a sublime flick
before unleashing a curling shot that flashed past Gianluigi Buffon.
It
was an early contender for goal of the season and Oscar, 21, admitted
he was delighted to have made such a big impact in his first Champions
League appearance.
“I was very happy to score my first goal in the Champions League and my first goal at Chelsea,” he said.
“The
first one, the ball deflected, so I was a bit lucky. But I was playing
very well, so I could score this beautiful goal and I’m very happy with
this debut.”
Punch Nigeria
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