Former Chelsea midfielder to striker Nicolas Jackson after the young forward told him to «shut up» in a heated exchange regarding his performance.
Mikel’s criticism of Jackson’s finishing skills has sparked a public dispute, with both players expressing their views through social media and interviews.
Jackson, who joined Chelsea from Villarreal last summer and scored 17 goals in his debut season, fired back at Mikel following a recent goal against Wolves.
In an Instagram post, he vented, “Shut your mouth, don’t talk s***; we are killing ourselves for Africa.” This response came after Mikel highlighted Jackson’s need to improve his finishing in front of goal.
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Mikel, however, stands firm on his assessment, insisting his remarks were meant to be constructive. «I’ve always said what I’ve said about Nicolas Jackson. He is a good player; I never said he is bad. The only criticism is his finishing needs to be much better,» Mikel explained in a recent interview with
He added that his comments were intended to help Jackson grow as a player. «It’s not coming from a bad place; it’s really constructive criticism. I think everyone will understand what I am saying,» Mikel continued.
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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed confidence in Jackson as the team’s first-choice striker, particularly following the failed bid for Victor Osimhen.
Nicholas Jackson has paid off him coach’s trust scoring twice in the Premier League and providing one assist. Although his sharpness in front of goal.
Mikel’s candid feedback has reignited discussions about the expectations placed on young talents like Jackson, who are under pressure to perform at top clubs.