“I keep saying this , he’s not Chelsea standard & Can’t get us anywhere” “Better get his backup or sell him out” – Mikel Obi hits at Chelsea star as Chelsea risk UCL football
The Blues 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park has plunged their UEFA Champions League qualification hopes into uncertainty.
However, Chelsea were plagued by defensive errors and a lack of cutting edge in attack, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side struggling to secure a top-five Premier League finish.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has repeatedly pointed to striker Nicolas Jackson’s inconsistent finishing as a critical factor affecting the club’s performance this season.
Mikel’s scrutiny of Jackson began early in the season after Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. The club legend, who won two Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League titles, has been a staunch critic of the forward, Ai Score reports.
The former Nigerian international argued that Chelsea lacked a clinical striker to compete at the highest level. At the start of the season, after the Blues lost 2-0 to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, Mikel said:
“You need a striker who knows how to hit a ball in the back of the net. That’s what we don’t have. “I know I talk so much about it, and sometimes I sound like I disrespect him, but I don’t disrespect him. I think we need a top striker who can get us goals. To get a striker who scores goals. “Jackson, yes, he does a little bit here and there, but we need a top striker like we did back in our day. Didier Drogba. We knew if you give him two or three chances he will score one.”
Jackson fires back at Mikel On August 26, following Chelsea’s 6-2 win over Wolves, Jackson blasted the former midfielder, writing on his Instagram ‘shut up. In response, Mikel said:
“I really like the guy as a football player. If he plays well, I will praise him. If there’s something to be said about him, where he needs to improve, I will definitely say it. “If he scores every week and tells me to shut up I’ll take that.” “I’ve always said what I’ve said about Nicolas Jackson. He is a good player, there is not once I have ever said he is a bad player. The only criticism is that 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.”