Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson gets suspended for reckless play in Aston Villa defeat
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson will miss the Blues’ upcoming Premier League clash against Fulham on October 2nd after receiving his fifth yellow card this season against Aston Villa, according to football.london.
The booking resulted from Jackson impeding a quick free kick by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Unfortunately, he can’t fulfil the ban in our EFL Cup clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on 27 September.
While harsh, the caution epitomized Nicolas Jackson‘s reckless play this campaign. The 22-year-old has frequently endangered Chelsea with rash challenges and poor discipline.
In as many as 6 matches, Jackson has picked up 5 yellow cards while scoring just one goal, that too against the relegation-battling Luton Town. For a man who is currently his team’s only striker, these stats are undoubtedly worrying.
In a press conference before the match covered by football.london, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino had told the journalists that he had a talk with Jackson about how his ‘cheap’ behaviour would be putting the team at risk.
I talked to him today. I said ‘come on, for a striker to have four yellow cards, to protest…to talk with the referee. You need to get some yellow cards for different actions not because of that. It’s so easy, so cheap. I think he could put the team in a really difficult situation (if it continues). He understood.
In spite of the manager’s warning, Jackson’s immaturity surfaced again in the match against Villa. His petulant reaction after the foul highlighted continued lapses in judgment this season.
Jackson’s reckless play could arise from his goal-scoring frustration
The Senegal international arrived from Villarreal this summer with a £32 million price tag. Having played just 12 games for his previous club, Jackson was undoubtedly very eager to prove himself in Chelsea colours.
However, getting booked a yellow and then having verbal spats with referees is hardly the thing he should be doing. It is highly likely that Jackson is frustrated with his poor performance at Stamford Bridge which is getting translated into his poor on-field behavior. Pochettino’s words in the pre-match press conference also reflected this.
“He came from Spain where it’s different, the relationship with the referees. Here in England it is more sensitive about this. He needs to be clever, not to protest to the referees.”
At just 22, time is on Jackson’s side to mature. But his suspension gives Pochettino reason to reconsider starting him once other forwards Christopher Nkunku, Armando Broja, and Noni Madueke return to regular play Jackson must heed his manager’s advice and refine his raw aggression.
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Chelsea require composure, not reckless abandon, from their strikers. Jackson has the talent, but his decision-making must improve. This ban provides a lesson that without focus, his fiery passion becomes detrimental. Keeping his head can help Jackson fulfil his potential long-term.