Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has replied to Nicolas Jackson after the latter’s vitriol against the Chelsea legend.
It all began on the Premier League opening weekend when Chelsea lost at home to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for City early in the first half before a late thunderbolt by Chelsea’s former player Mateo Kovacic sealed the win.
Jackson made the headlines in the match after he scored an offside goal and missed a good chance to bring Chelsea back into the game.
Nigeria Super Eagles legend and former captain Mikel Obi was among those who felt the former Villarreal forward didn’t do enough to change the texture of the game.
Speaking after the match, Obi said;
“Even though he was offside, you could see how he dribbled past one, two, three players and the way he struck the ball!
”You need a striker who knows how to put the ball in the back of the net, and that’s what we’re lacking. I know I talk a lot about him, and it might sound like I’m being disrespectful, but I’m not.”
Nicolas Jackson fired back at Obi
In Chelsea’s second Premier League match against Wolves, Nicolas Jackson silenced his critics, opening the scoring for the Blues as they ran out with a thumping 6-2 victory at the Molineux.
While the likes of Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer, who bagged a hat-trick of goals and assists, respectively, stole the spotlight, Nicolas Jackson was also on the radar. According to 433, Jackson’s goal against Wolves, scored in 98 seconds, was the fastest Premier League goal since 2017.
Finding a perfect chance to lash out at Mikel Obi, Jackson shared the post by 433 on his Instagram. He tagged Mikel Obi and wrote;
“Shut your mouth. Don’t talk shit. We are killing ourselves for Africa.”
Nicolas Jackson’s vitriol was a response to Mikel Obi’s comment after the opening loss to Man City at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Obi reacts to Nicolas Jackson’s comment
Speaking in his podcast, Mikel made light of the issue but aimed a subtle dig at Jackson.
According to the two-time Premier League winner, he will only stop talking about Nicolas Jackson when he keeps scoring.
However, he added that the footballer is doing well but will still need to improve with his finishing.
“I like the guy as a football player, and I haven’t said he’s a bad player at all. I’ve just said that his finishing qualities are not there. He’s a young boy, and all I’ve said is that he needs a more experienced striker at the club to help him improve, to help him get better”, he said.
“If he plays well, I will praise him. If there’s something that needs to be said about him, where he needs to improve, I will definitely say it. If he scores every week and tells me to shut up, I will take that.”
Nicolas Jackson Chelsea stats
Since last season when he joined from Villarreal for £29.8million, Jackson has had a rickety start to his Chelsea career. However, he improved immensely towards the end of the campaign, scoring 14 goals in 35 league appearances with five assists.
Nevertheless, he has constantly been in the spotlight for lame finishing even in one-on-one situations, but the footballer did score 15 goals in his debut Premier League campaign with Chelsea.
Nicolas Jackson Vs Mikel Obi spat?
Jackson’s social media outburst was a loud retort against Mikel Obi. This has sparked rumors of a simmering beef between the pair.
However, it is pertinent to note that the former Chelsea midfielder had nothing personal on the Senegalese save his sublime punditry role on beinSPORT during the Man City match.
Mikel Obi played for Chelsea for 11 years from 2006 to 2017, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two Carabao Cup, one Community Shield, a Champions League and Europa League trophy.
While Jackson must have taken the comment personal, it is apparent Obi meant no harm but expressing a genuine concern as a club legend.
