Mikel resorted to mind games to make Arjen Robben (pictured right, in his Chelsea days) fluff his penalty kick in Chelsea's Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich.
Mikel employed some old-fashioned 'sledging' in Saturday night's final before Petr Cech saved Robben's extra-time spot-kick.
As it was, Chelsea held on for a 1-1 draw before winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout on what proved the greatest night in their history.
Mikel: "He looked nervous and I said Petr Cech knows all about him and how he takes penalties.
"I told him, 'Petr Cech knows where you are going to kick it'.
"I just told Robben that he is going to miss it.
"You know, we just do that sometimes as players.
"I think when the penalty was missed, we kind of believed that this trophy was going to be ours."