Ogasabi on 9am news reports that Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson has sharply responded to criticism from former player John Obi Mikel, addressing team chemistry and defending his own performance. Jackson, the Senegalese striker, scored in Chelsea’s commanding 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on Sunday. Despite his contribution, Jackson has faced scrutiny since his move from Villarreal a year ago, with inconsistent finishing often overshadowing his strengths.
Mikel, a former Nigerian international, criticized Jackson following Chelsea’s 1-2 season-opening loss to Manchester City. As reported by Talk Sports, Mikel highlighted Jackson’s struggles in front of goal and the team’s failure to capitalize on opportunities. Mikel commented on beIN Sports, “We haven’t taken the opportunities that we created. We don’t have a striker who can put the ball in the back of the net, which is essential.”
In response, Jackson hit back at Mikel on Instagram after Chelsea’s triumph over Wolves, stating, “@Mikel_John_Obi, shut your mouth, don’t talk s***. For Africa, we are dying ourselves.”
Jackson joined Chelsea last summer from Villarreal in a £32 million deal, scoring 14 goals in his first Premier League season. However, he missed 24 crucial chances, the third-highest in the league. Mikel, who played for Chelsea from 2006 to 2017, made 249 appearances and won several titles, including two Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League title.
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