Host apologises after Mikel uses strong language on TV to berate Chelsea's Jackson

John Mikel Obi is one of the biggest critics of Chelsea's struggling striker Nicolas Jackson, typically through his podcast platform, Obi One. He reprised that role on TV, and it has led to criticisms about his professionalism. 

While a more niche audience for a podcast allows for more freedom in language and phrasing, television calls for cleaner verbiage, and Mikel's use of words like “stupid” and “pissed” in his criticism of Jackson caused the presenter of the show to apologise to the audience. 

As Pulse Sports reported, Chelsea were given a hiding by Flamengo. The Brazilian team beat them 3-1 in their second leg group stage game in the Club World Cup, and Jackson was sent off in the 68th minute, only four minutes after replacing Delap. 

Mikel was a studio analyst for DAZN in their coverage of the game, and after the match, he went on a tirade. 

“Unbelievable. Stupid, stupid, stupid mistake,” Mikel's rant began. ‘I don't know what was going through his head. You come into the game; you are 2-1 down at that point. Your team needs you. And he does that. 

“He did it in a league game at Newcastle. Again, a very important game which we needed to win to qualify for the Champions League. He did that, he got a red card. And now he's done this. You can't keep making mistakes.

"I don't care what his frustration is. It's a football club. It's a massive football club, and it's about competition. If you're p***ed off that Delap's coming to the football club and he's going to be the competition with you... You have to embrace it if you are a big player. Because the only way you are going to win trophies is if you are competing against each other.”

Immediately after Mikel's strongly worded criticism, the presenter of the show, Kelly Sommer, apologised to the viewers for the language used. “Lots of emotion in the studio, so apologies for any language used there,” she said.

Meanwhile, Jackson has since taken to social media to apologise for getting sent off. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca also defended the striker, rubbishing suggestions that the Senegalese was lashing out because new signing Liam Delap started the match in his stead.