Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson responded sharply to recent criticism from club legend John Obi Mikel following his impressive performance in Chelsea’s 6-2 victory over Wolves. Jackson’s reaction came after Mikel’s comments about him during an analysis of Chelsea’s first match defeat against Manchester City.
In his critique, Mikel had highlighted Jackson’s difficulties in front of goal. He noted that while Chelsea created numerous chances, they failed to convert them, using Jackson as an example of their finishing struggles. Mikel remarked, “We created chances, we haven’t taken them. And just an example of how Jackson finishes.”
Mikel continued, “You can see there, even though he was offside, he dribbled past one or two or three players and the way he shot the ball!” He emphasized the need for a striker who can consistently find the back of the net, suggesting that Jackson’s finishing abilities were lacking.
Jackson did not take the criticism lightly and took to Instagram after the Wolves match to respond. He wrote, “@Mikel_John_Obi, shut your mouth, don’t talk s***. We are killing ourselves for Africa.” His comment was a clear rebuttal to Mikel’s assessment, expressing frustration with the criticism he received.
In response to Jackson’s outburst, Mikel maintained his position, addressing the matter with a measured tone. He stated, “Shots fired,” acknowledging Jackson’s response but reiterating his stance. Mikel added, “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.”
Mikel clarified, “I haven’t said he’s a bad player at all. I’ve just said his finishing quality is not there yet. He’s a young boy.” He further explained that his comments were intended to highlight the need for Jackson to develop further and suggested that bringing in an experienced striker could aid in his improvement.
Mikel concluded, “If he scores every week and tells me to shut up I’ll take that,” indicating that he would gladly accept Jackson’s criticism if it meant improved performance on the field.
Jackson, who joined Chelsea last summer, has accumulated 18 goals and six assists in 46 appearances. Despite the ongoing debate over his finishing abilities, his recent performances continue to draw attention and provoke discussion among fans and pundits alike.