Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi

MTNFOOTBALL.COM

Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi has saluted the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as Chelsea fulltime manager.

The Italian coach guided ‘The Blues’ to an historic UEFA Champions League triumph last month as well as a fourth FA Cup conquest.

And Mikel has now told MTNFootball.com that the former Chelsea star deserved the two-year contract he got.

"I congratulate Roberto Di Matteo on his appointment. He truly deserved it,” Mikel said.

“I also commend the board (of Chelsea) for this decision which is very good and important for the team.

“He has been around for a while and he turned around the fortunes of the club when almost everyone had lost hope for us to win both the Champions League as well as the FA Cup.

“Everybody at Chelsea loves and wants him. This will help him to do well.”

Mikel enjoyed a new lease of life at Stamford Bridge when Di Matteo took over the reins of the club following the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas within the past season.

And the Nigeria international will back Di Matteo to now focus on bettering his achievements of last season.

“He will do better next season. With the contract and appointment issue over, he will now settle down for the real job now. If he could achieve what he did in such a short time, I am sure next season we will achieve even more," Mikel said.