Has Mikel lost the trust of Jose Mourinho?

With the re-signing of Nemanja Matic from Benfica, one must begin to wonder if the position of Chelsea's Mikel is under threat, this season has been a mixed season for the Nigerian with him coming in and out of the Chelsea line-up due to the squad rotation policy of Mourinho and sometimes not up to the scratch performances. Chelsea has bought a defensive midfielder, Nemanja Matic, who threatens to usurp the Nigerian in the Blues lineup.There is no doubt that he is now ready to become Jose Mourinho's go-to man at Stamford Bridge. The man who played just 43 Premier League minutes in his first spell at Chelsea now boasts everything you would look for in a defensive midfielder. He is very strong and easily outmuscles his opponents, his tackling is superb and his interceptions timed to perfection. His ability to read the game and pick the perfect moment to swoop in and recover possession is second to none. He's not bad in the air, either. But his vast qualities are not limited to the uglier side of the game; his technical ability is top-notch, he is a very good passer and boasts the ability to perfectly pick out his team-mates. His shooting has also improved to the point where he is a credible threat from long range, while his aerial ability makes him dangerous at corners.  

If Matic has one weakness it is his speed. He is not blessed with great pace and that could cause some problems for him in the Premier League. However, he is not a slow player by any stretch of the imagination and he more than makes up for that lack of pace with his relentless effort and physical dominance, not to mention his reading of the game. 

Simply, though, Matic is the perfect fit for Chelsea's midfield, as his defensive abilities will perfectly complement the club's ranks of playmakers and attacking midfielders. He will provide the perfect cover, becoming the foundation of Mourinho's line-up. This player seems to be an upgrade on Mikel who has featured consistently for Chelsea in his eight years in England. Time and time again, Mikel has overcome competition for his position. Let's hope he does the same this time around.