Chelsea ace Mikel keen on ‘prime time’ return

John Obi Mikel has admitted to struggling for motivation for Chelsea’s Europa League campaign and is desperate to return to the “prime time” of the Champions League next season.

The Blues will bid to complete a Europa League quarter-final aggregate win over Rubin Kazan tomorrow and then continue their FA Cup defence with victory in Sunday’s Wembley semi-final with Manchester City.

But Mikel’s primary focus is on securing a top-four place in the Premier League and a return to the tournament Chelsea won in 2012.

“Champions league football is what this club has always been involved in and that is what we as players want to achieve,” Mikel said.

“No disrespect to the Europa League, but when you saw that game on Thursday... but when you get that buzz, and you hear the Champions League song, it’s different.

“I don’t even know the Europa League song. I have been here seven years and I have never played football on Thursday nights.

“What do they say? Thursday nights, Channel 5? Hopefully next season we are not going to be in it — we are going to be prime time.”