Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Flamengo in the Club World Cup took a turn for the worse when Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a horrible challenge just after entering the field and Mikel Obi is not happy with it.
The red card saw Chelsea reduced to 10 men, making their fight to come back even more challenging. According to FIFA’s official rules, Jackson will be banned for one game, which will likely see Enzo Maresca deploy Liam Delap again against ES Tunis.
John Obi Mikel, a Chelsea legend, wasn’t holding back in his criticism of Jackson’s reckless behavior.
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Mikel Obi who was on punditry duty for the Chelsea game, described Jackson’s mistake as “stupid, stupid, stupid.” He added, “I don’t know what’s going through his head. Your team needs you, and you do that. He did that at Newcastle. Now he’s done this. I don’t care what his frustration is…”
Mikel Obi has been consistent in criticising Nicolas Jackson
This isn’t the first time Mikel has been critical of Jackson. Since his move to Stamford Bridge, Mikel has held Jackson to high standards, reflecting his own experiences as a Chelsea player.
Jackson’s red card against Flamengo adds to his disciplinary issues, including a ban for the first Premier League game of the new season against Crystal Palace due to a red card against Newcastle at the end of last season.
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The red card and subsequent ban will undoubtedly impact Chelsea’s upcoming games. With Jackson out, Maresca will have to rely on other players to fill the gap. Liam Delap might get another chance to prove himself, but it remains to be seen how Chelsea will adapt to Jackson’s absence.
Mikel’s criticism extends beyond Jackson’s performance. He has been vocal about his desire for Chelsea to sign a new striker, specifically Victor Osimhen. Despite Osimhen’s reported wage demands making the signing unlikely, Mikel believes the Nigerian striker would be a valuable addition to the team.
