‘I don’t like situations like this’, ‘Time to drop you’: Mauricio Pochettino warns Chelsea star performance so far
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has warned Nicolas Jackson and the rest of his side that they need to grow up.
Nicolas Jackson picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier today and Mauricio Pochettino is not happy with some of the ill-discipline he is seeing in general.
Speaking to football.london and rest of the English media after the match, the Argentine said: “We were talking, we need to grow up like a team, not only in an individual way. I think players like Nico who are so young and feeling the Premier League and is learning, they need time.
“In this type of game, we are competing and want to win and football is about winning but also players, when they are young, need to learn, and experience and make mistakes. That’s why we feel disappointed as there are too many situations like this and I agree with you too many things like this and in the end we are losing the game and we are in a situation we need to change as soon as possible.”
Malo Gusto was also sent off in the Blues’ recent loss, so it is hardly a surprise that Pochettino is starting to get frustrated.
The French right-back, who will now be suspended, has got sent off at the wrong time, with Reece James still out injured.
Nicolas Jackson needs to stop picking up yellows
Jackson’s yellows cards have been stupid. He has been cautioned for things like asking the referee to book another player, for example.
It is so avoidable, but the 22-year-old striker cannot resist and has now racked up five yellows, earning him a suspension.
Jackson is young, though, and now that he is receiving a ban, you would expect him to learn his lesson.
His lack of discipline is not Chelsea’s biggest problem right now, though. The Senegal international and his team-mate’s struggles in front of goal are a much larger concern.
Jackson has scored just one goal in six Premier League games, while the Blues as a whole have managed five in six. That is what Pochettino has to concentrate on fixing if his side are to accomplish anything this campaign.