Chelsea’s season got off to a rocky start with a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in their opening Premier League match.
Goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic were enough to give Pep Guardiola’s side the victory, but much of the post-match discussion focused on the performance of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel didn’t hold back in his assessment of Jackson’s display.
Speaking on beIN Sports, Mikel expressed his disappointment with the Senegalese striker, saying, “You need to have a striker who knows how to hit a ball in the back of the net, and that’s what we don’t have.”
Mikel’s criticism was pointed, as he highlighted Jackson’s struggles in front of goal. Despite getting some opportunities, Jackson failed to make an impact, missing key chances that could have changed the game for Chelsea.
His underwhelming performance led to his substitution in the 67th minute, with 18-year-old Marc Guiu replacing him on the pitch.
Mikel made it clear that he doesn’t intend to disrespect Jackson but emphasized that the current Chelsea squad needs a more reliable striker.
His comments reflect a growing concern among fans and pundits about whether Jackson is the right player to lead Chelsea’s attack this season.
In addition to his critique of Jackson, Mikel also urged Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez to step up and take on more responsibilities as the season progresses.
Mikel’s comments suggest that he believes Chelsea’s current squad needs players to rise to the occasion if they are to compete with the likes of Manchester City for top honors.
As Chelsea moves forward, all eyes will be on how Jackson responds to this criticism and whether he can prove himself as the striker Chelsea needs to challenge for the Premier League title.
