Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has clarified his recent criticisms striker Nicolas Jackson, addressing the young forward’s potential and areas for improvement.
Mikel, a Chelsea legend, acknowledged Jackson’s talent and contributions to the team but highlighted one key weakness: his finishing. While praising the Senegalese forward’s positioning and work ethic, Mikel stressed that Jackson needs to sharpen his goal-scoring ability to reach his full potential.
“I’ve always said what I’ve said about Nicolas Jackson. He is a good player; there is no time I have ever said he is a bad player. The only criticism is his finishing needs to be much better. In terms of giving us what we want, being in the right place at the right time, he does for the team,” Mikel said during an interview on BEIN Sports.
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Earlier in the season, Mikel had criticised Jackson’s playing style and even suggested that Chelsea should target a striker like Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen. Jackson responded on social media after scoring in Chelsea’s 6-2 away win against Wolverhampton, telling Mikel to “shut up,” which sparked media attention.
Despite the back-and-forth, Mikel’s recent comments have shown that his criticism comes from a place of constructive advice, as he hopes to see the young forward improve in front of goal and reach the next level in his development at Chelsea.
