FIFA Club World Cup: Palmer and Jackson combination make Chelsea play well - Mikel Obi

Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel, who has at times been critical of Nicolas Jackson's performances, expressed his approval of the Senegalese forward's involvement in the Blues’ opening goal of the FIFA Club World Cup.

It was Jackson who provided the assist for Neto's strike, after receiving a pass from Cole Palmer, showcasing a promising connection between the two.

Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in impressive fashion, picking up right where they left off after their UEFA Conference League triumph.

Under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, the Blues secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC in their opening match on Monday, with goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez sealing the win.

The opening goal, netted by Pedro Neto, drew particular praise from former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown, who highlighted the skill displayed by Neto just before finding the back of the net.

Beyond Neto's individual brilliance, several of his teammates also received commendation for their contributions to Chelsea's first victory in the newly revamped Club World Cup.

Mikel, a legend at Stamford Bridge, believes that Maresca's side is capable of playing "really well" once this duo consistently links up effectively.

He said, "You can see Cole Palmer getting more involved in the game and like I said before the game, I think the combination between Cole and Nicolas Jackson, that’s what makes us play really well.

He further elaborated on Jackson's contribution to the goal.

"You can see from the goal, gets the ball Cole Palmer to Nicolas Jackson, great feet from Nicolas Jackson. He’s been really, really good today,” he added.

Jackson, who endured a mixed bag of performances last season, ended the 2024/25 campaign on a strong note. The Senegal international notably scored Chelsea’s second goal in their decisive 4-1 Conference League final win against Real Betis last month.

The early signs from the Club World Cup suggest that the attacking partnership between Palmer and Jackson could be a big factor in Chelsea's pursuit of more silverware this summer.