As of: March 15, 2024, 8:00 p.m
By: Luca Hartmann
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There was a strange glitch during the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals.
Ticket fee Jon John Obi Mikel had some problems with the lottery balls.
Nyon - For the last two German representatives, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, the Champions League draw for the quarter-finals resulted in exciting pairings: While the Munich team face Arsenal FC, Dortmund have to play against Atlético Madrid.
The German teams are spared the absolute top clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester City, at least in the round of the last eight – thanks to Jon Obi Mikel.
The Nigerian was responsible for drawing the balls as a lottery ticket, but had to face some difficulties.
Breakdown in the CL draw: John Obi Mikel with problems opening the balls
The 36-year-old repeatedly had problems opening the balls, which contain the names of the respective teams inside.
Sometimes it took seconds to turn it up until he got the name he wanted.
A few times the balls seemed to tilt slightly when unscrewing.
There are already problems with Arsenal FC's first draw.
“Finally,” explains Mikel when he has finally opened the ball.
UEFA Deputy General Secretary and master of ceremonies Giorgio Marchetti agrees: “You did it”.
With the third ball there were problems again: “It’s stuck,” explains Mikel.
Marchetti adds: “It’s a little difficult, but don’t worry, they can be opened.”
When Mikel finally holds the ticket with the name of Atlético Madrid in his hand, he breathes a sigh of relief: “Now I have it”.
John Obi Mikel had some problems during the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals.
© EPA/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT and Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP
Bayern shock Mikel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012
FC Bayern fans, who probably remember Mikel well, would have wished for similar problems, but on the pitch, some time ago.
The former midfielder was under contract with Chelsea FC from 2006 to 2017 - and was part of the team that inflicted one of the bitterest Champions League defeats in the club's history on the record champions in the 2012 “Final at Home”.
Mikel was on the pitch for the full 120 minutes in Munich and played alongside then Chelsea captain Frank Lampard in defensive midfield.
As a clearer in the headquarters, he made life difficult for the Bayern offensive in the final.
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Not the first mishap in the CL draw
It is not the first time that there has been a breakdown in a Champions League draw.
In 2021, the draw for the round of 16 had to be completely repeated due to several errors.
There will probably hardly be any errors or problems like Mikel's in future draws.
Starting next season, a super computer will take over a large part of the draw.