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The Chelsea legend spoke at length about the current striker situation at the Blues
John Obi Mikel has set the record straight on his recent comments about Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, insisting he meant no disrespect.
As Chelsea prepares for the FIFA Club World Cup, the former Blues midfielder also addressed the club’s decision to pursue Liam Delap over Victor Osimhen.
Mikel clears the air on Jackson criticism, backs striker to improve
The Nigerian legend has publicly clarified that his remarks about Nicolas Jackson were never meant to tear the player down, but rather to push him toward his full potential.
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While speaking as a pundit for DAZN, Mikel said, “Nicolas has big potential, and I never intended to disrespect him. You can see there is a player there. He’s good on the ball, quick, and stretches defenders to give players like Cole Palmer more space.”
Jackson finished last season with 13 goals and 5 assists in 34 games. A decent haul, but one that clearly left room for improvement.
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Mikel believes the arrival of Liam Delap could be the spark Jackson needs, saying, “Hopefully Delap’s arrival will cause a positive reaction.”
Mikel reflects on Chelsea’s Osimhen snub
While Jackson remains under the spotlight, Mikel also weighed in on Chelsea’s transfer strategy, particularly the decision to bring in Liam Delap instead of pursuing long-term target Victor Osimhen.
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The 2012 Champions League winner noted, “I think Chelsea have decided to go in a different direction now.”
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Although he firmly believes Osimhen would have “hit the ground running straight away” at Stamford Bridge, Mikel is not writing off Delap, calling the youngster’s signing a bold move that could pay off.
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“I want to see a great partnership between both of them, pushing each other in training and on the field,” he added about Delap’s competition with Jackson.
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