• Champions League

Mikel calls on UEFA to overturn Chelsea bans

ESPNsoccernet staff
April 25, 2012
John Obi Mikel believes John Terry should be able to play in the final © Getty Images
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John Obi Mikel believes UEFA should allow Chelsea's four suspended players to take part in May's Champions League final.

Chelsea battled against the odds to knock Champions League holders Barcelona out of the competition with a 3-2 aggregate victory on Tuesday, despite being reduced to ten men in the first half at the Camp Nou.

Blues skipper John Terry was handed a straight red card after kneeing Alexis Sanchez, while Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles all picked up bookings that ensured they will also miss the showpiece at the Allianz Arena.

But when asked if he felt his team-mates have been hard done-by, Nigeria international Mikel said: "Yes, the yellow cards should be cancelled going into a final and UEFA should look into that.

"When you get to the final everyone wants to see the best players and it's a shame that JT, Ivanovic, Meireles and Ramires won't play.

"The JT one was soft from what I saw and it was a yellow card. I think Sanchez made the most of it. Alexis did the same to me as well. He got me yellow carded.

"There was a little touch and he rolled on the ground 10 times. He definitely made the most of it. The four players were devastated in the dressing room.

"They're happy for the team but are very disappointed to not be in the final. We will go out to win the trophy for them."

Chelsea will play either Real Madrid of Bayern Munich on May 19. Bayern head to the Bernabeu leading 2-1 after Mario Gomez scored a late winner in the first meeting.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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