Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has defended his recent criticism of Nicolas Jackson, despite the striker's sharp rebuttal following his standout performance in Chelsea's 6-2 victory over Wolves.
After the Blues' disappointing 2-0 loss to Manchester City, Mikel had expressed his concerns about the team's need for a top-class striker, singling out Jackson in his remarks.
"You need a striker who knows how to hit the ball into the back of the net, and that's what we don't have," Mikel said. "I think at Chelsea Football Club, we need a top striker who can get us a goal."
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John Obi Mikel clarifies his comments on Jackson
Jackson, the 23-year-old Senegalese forward, responded emphatically after scoring and assisting in Chelsea's thrashing of Wolves. His message to Mikel? "Shut your mouth." However, Mikel has now clarified his stance, insisting that his critique was not meant to disparage Jackson's abilities.
"Shots fired," Mikel acknowledged. "I really like the guy. There's something there as a football player, but he's still raw. The finishing part of his game needs to be worked on. I haven't said he's a bad player at all. I've just said his finishing quality is not there yet. He's still young and needs someone to come in and help him. If he scores every week and tells me to shut up, I'll take that."
While Jackson scored 14 Premier League goals in his debut season for Chelsea, fans and critics alike expected more from the forward. With Chelsea eyeing potential reinforcements like Napoli's Victor Osimhen (who might be on his way to Saudi Arabia), it remains to be seen if Jackson will continue to lead the Blues' attack this season.
Chelsea return to action on Thursday night in the second leg of their Conference League playoff tie against Servette, after securing a 2-0 win in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.
