1. Was it hard adjusting to life in the Premier League and England? (Brandon Ramsundar)

It was difficult but I am glad I did. It took me a long time but I am really happy now. The players really helped and the people I have around me, my family and my agent. It was quite hard but it's all good now!


2. Who has affected your life and career the most? (Owen West)

My family have helped me a lot in my career and in my life; it has to be my family.


3. Which match do you think is the best performance for you since you arrived at Stamford Bridge? (K.K. Lee)

There have been loads but I guess last season's game against Inter Milan in Italy was a really good game. The way I played was great but that is a tough one for me to answer because I feel I have played well quite a few times, at least I hope I have!


4. Would you enjoy playing a more attacking role as an attacking midfielder was your natural position before you joined Chelsea FC? (Matthew Robinson)

This position is now my position. This is where I love to play and where I feel most conformable playing. I just want to keep playing here now and keep improving. I know people want to see more of my attacking football but with the kind of club I play for you have to do more for the side than just attacking.


5. Your game has continued to improve this season, is this now a time we're going to see more goals from you? (Richard Kielty-Price)

Hopefully you will get some goals from me; I just want to keep playing well and with the way I am playing hopefully goals will come. Maybe there'll be one or two, we'll see what happens.

(At this point Salomon Kalou walks in with a drawing of Michael Essien and proclaims it to be Mikel)

Mikel: That looks nothing like me, that is Essien.

Kalou: I think it looks like you (laughing) and he's wearing the Nigerian shirt, it must be you!

Mikel: (Obviously perturbed) that doesn't look like me; I don't know what you are talking about.

Kalou: Okay, I'm sorry (giggling).



6. You seemed to have matured this season. What caused you to undergo this change? How is the John Mikel Obi of 2010 different to that of 2007? (Karan Kamath)

That is when I joined Chelsea.

Kalou: He is less diva-ish. He is not a diva anymore; he used to be a real diva back then.

Mikel: What? I don't know why you are here, go away!

(Kalou continues laughing but doesn't leave, instead he sits opposite Mikel)

I think I have changed because I don't get red cards now; I had four red cards in the first two seasons. That's something that happens game-by-game, season-by-season, you grow from it. I think I have grown into becoming a more mature person off the field and on the pitch as well. I am only 23 and of course you have to go through your teenage stage but I have grown up now.


7. How far do you think we can go in the Champions League this season and how much of a bonus is it for you to have Essien back in the team? (Joe Norris)

This season is a season we all, as individual players and as a team, want to win the Champions League. It is one of the trophies we want to win but we don't make any priorities. We would like to win it of course but we won the Premier League last season and we want to keep it and maintain that. But the Champions League is something everyone wants to win, especially the fans.

But with Essien, I don't know, I don't have to talk about him. Everyone knows what he can do and he's been performing fantastically this season. It helped that he had a very good pre-season and he has come back as strong as ever. He is a good player to have about and I hope he doesn't get any more injuries.


8. I'm a season ticket and think that Obi has been our most consistent and arguably the most improved player this season. Have you studied other players' games and/or worked hard on improving things you thought needed it? (Rich Martin)

Of course I did work very hard, one of the things I did was take on board some of the criticism I had last season about my attacking play and I had a chat with the manager about this. He said it was something he wanted me to improve and I am learning. I want to learn every day. It is one of the things that has helped me this season. I have added a bit more attacking play into my game and I read the game a bit more maturely now, things are going well and hopefully I will carry on like this.


9. What advice would you give to young players who are inspired by the way you play and hold midfield tight? (Ifeanyi Innocent)

I don't know, it's a position which makes that a difficult one to answer. All the ways of the team is on you. It's a position where you can't leave your post, you have to balance the side. For young boys to be able to balance a side, especially in the Premier League where the game is very fast, will take years but hard work is everything.

(Player liaison officer Gary Staker walks in and starts nodding his head enthusiastically at Mikel's words, trying to put the midfielder off his stride…)


10. When and what has been your best moment as a Chelsea player and what are you looking forward to as a Chelsea player? (Gibson Kibett Bye Gone)

Best moment of Chelsea is when I signed and saw Gary (pictured above, Mikel laughs loudly at this point, Gary walks away, dejected!).

In all seriousness, I think last season was fantastic, I just pray and hope that we go one step better this season and win the Champions League as well.