Ghanaian football legend Michael Essien has come to the defense of Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson, following a heated exchange between Jackson and former Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel.
The conflict arose after Mikel criticized Jackson’s performance at Chelsea, prompting a fiery response from the 22-year-old.
Jackson, who joined Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, struggled with consistency during his first season.
While he scored 14 goals in the league, he missed 24 big chances and underperformed in terms of his expected goals (xG), leading to widespread criticism, including remarks from Mikel. The Nigerian football icon, who was part of Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League-winning team, urged Jackson to improve if he wanted to succeed at Stamford Bridge.
In response, Jackson took to Instagram and posted a blunt message aimed at Mikel, saying, “Shut your mouth, don’t talk sh*t; we are killing ourselves for Africa.” The comment quickly divided fans, with some condemning Jackson’s tone, while others sympathized with his frustration.
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Michael Essien, a former Chelsea star and Mikel’s long-time teammate, weighed in on the controversy, offering a measured defense of Jackson.
Speaking to Joy Sports, Essien explained that criticism, especially from former players, can hit hard and provoke strong reactions from current athletes.
“We all have our personalities. Some will say it, but for me, I would just ignore it,” Essien said. “Everyone has an opinion, but I think it’s not personal. However, when the criticism comes from ex-players, it hurts the players even more, and then they react.”
Essien admitted that he would have handled the situation differently but acknowledged that the outburst by Jackson was likely fueled by the emotional impact of hearing such criticism from someone like Mikel Obi, who has significant standing in Chelsea’s history.
Meanwhile, Mikel responded to Jackson’s remarks diplomatically, standing by his earlier statements that the young striker needs to improve. He advised Jackson to prove his worth on the pitch by scoring consistently, saying, “He should shut me up by scoring every week.”
