Nicolas Jackson again? Super Eagles legend Mikel slams two Chelsea stars after poor Man City outing

Mikel John Obi criticised Nicolas Jackson's finishing and ball-striking in August 2024

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According to Chelsea fans, Mikel was not professional in addressing the issue and deserved 'shut up' by Nicolas Jackson.

Nicolas Jackson again? Super Eagles legend Mikel slams two Chelsea stars after poor Man City outing

Ayoola Kelechi 17:16 - 27.01.2025

Super Eagles star John Obi Mikel is has fired at Chelsea's stars after they fell like a pack of cards against Manchester City

Chelsea’s struggles continued with a 3-1 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad, and club legend John Obi Mikel has pulled no punches in criticising two of the Blues’ stars.

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Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, the former midfielder questioned whether the duo has the quality to elevate Chelsea back to their glory days.

Mikel at loggerheads with Jackson again

Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson faced Mikel’s sharp critique for his lack of decisiveness in front of goal yet again after the loss to Manchester City.

Mikel Obi, Chelsea legend || YouTube

The Senegalese forward set up Noni Madueke’s early opener but squandered a golden opportunity to extend Chelsea’s lead, choosing to pass instead, and the Super Eagles legend revealed his frustration with the Senegalese star post-match.

“Your job is to score goals,” Mikel said, adding, “You’re a striker; just put your foot through it. If you miss, it’s fine, but at least try.”

Mikel compared Jackson unfavourably to past Chelsea icons, emphasising the need for a clinical finisher like Didier Drogba.

Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson has found his scoring boots at the club. | Imago

“In my time, when we called upon Didier, he was there to put the ball in the back of the net. We don’t have that now. We need somebody who can score goals to get us there. Nicolas Jackson is not that striker,”

The Nigerian legend further suggested that Chelsea should pursue more reliable forwards, even mentioning Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres as examples. he added.

Mikel slams Sanchez after costly error

Mikel also took aim at goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose performance came under scrutiny after key mistakes led to City’s goals.

Mikel Obi || X

The Spaniard’s indecisive positioning allowed Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland to score, raising doubts about his ability to handle high-pressure situations.

“He’s not good enough for Chelsea,” Mikel said bluntly, adding, “He’s a decent keeper, but not the kind of top-quality player who can win you the league or secure a top-four finish.”

Chelsea now sits sixth in the Premier League table, 13 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, all but ending their short-lived place as title contenders.

It remains to be seen whether or not the club sticks with the duo or takes Mikel’s advice and decides to bring in reinforcements before the January transfer window closes.

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