Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel delivered a blunt assessment of Nicolas Jackson’s performance during Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City. Speaking as a pundit on beIN Sports, Mikel criticized Jackson's lack of shot power, unfavorably comparing him to City’s Erling Haaland.
Chelsea fell behind early in their Premier League opener when Haaland capitalized on a defensive lapse to put City ahead in the 18th minute. Despite some promising moments from Chelsea, including a disallowed goal from Jackson due to offside, the Blues struggled to break down City’s defense.
Commenting on Jackson’s performance, Mikel remarked, “We created chances but didn’t take them. Jackson’s finishing wasn’t sharp enough.” He added, “Even though he was offside, the way he shot the ball shows we lack a striker who knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Mikel, who was a key midfielder in Chelsea’s successful years, emphasized the need for a striker of Haaland’s caliber. He stated, “At Chelsea, we need a top striker who can get us goals. Haaland’s record at City, 91 goals in 100 games, is unbelievable.”
With Jackson managing just 17 goals in 45 appearances since his move from Villarreal, the pressure is mounting on Chelsea to find a reliable goal-scorer before the transfer window closes.