Tension continues to brew between former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel and Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson.
Mikel has once again voiced strong criticism of Jackson’s performances, even urging Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca to drop him from the starting lineup.
This latest remark is set to reignite debate over Jackson’s role at the club, as he endures a challenging period in the league.
Mikel stands firm in his criticism
Jackson’s struggles in front of goal have become increasingly evident, with his last goal dating back to December 15, 2024.
He has now gone eight consecutive matches without scoring, drawing sharp scrutiny from Mikel, who has been one of his most outspoken critics.
Speaking on his podcast, Obi One, Mikel insisted that Maresca must take decisive action:
Enzo Maresca had the courage to drop Robert Sanchez.
He should do the same with Nicolas Jackson.
He needs to give him a break and try Christopher Nkunku instead.
Mikel’s skepticism regarding Jackson is nothing new.
Since the start of the season, he has repeatedly questioned whether the striker possesses the finishing ability Chelsea requires.
He runs around and does his job, but we need a real finisher, someone who knows how to put a ball in the back of the net.
Which we don’t have at the moment.
Ongoing feud between Mikel and Jackson
Mikel’s latest remarks add to the growing tension between the two.
Following Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City in August, the former Nigerian international publicly criticized Jackson’s performance.
Jackson responded with a now-infamous social media post, though he was later advised by his entourage, including agent Diomansy Kamara, to downplay the situation.
Despite these efforts, the friction between the two remains evident.
Jackson under pressure to perform
Jackson made an impressive start to the season, registering eight goals and three assists in his first 14 appearances.
However, his recent struggles in front of goal, combined with Chelsea’s inconsistent results, have intensified scrutiny.
Despite the criticism, Jackson has maintained that he uses such remarks as motivation to improve.
L’ancien milieu des Blues, John Obi Mikel 🇳🇬 pense qu’Enzo Maresca doit “mettre sur le banc” l’attaquant sénégalais et “faire jouer Christopher Nkunku” pour voir ce que ça va donner 🗣️
Etes-vous du même avis ? pic.twitter.com/D4qotqY9RJ
— CANAL+ SPORT Afrique (@cplussportafr) February 5, 2025
Nevertheless, with Christopher Nkunku now available and competition within the squad heating up, he will need to rediscover his form quickly to solidify his place in Maresca’s starting XI.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether he can silence his critics and prove his worth to Chelsea and its supporters.
