Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has criticized Nicolas Jackson after the Blues’ recent 2-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City.
Earlier on Sunday (August 18), the Stamford Bridge outfit opened their 2024-25 league season with a home loss. Jackson started the contest and registered just one shot before being taken off in the 67th minute.
After the end of the match, Burley shared his honest thoughts on the 23-year-old Senegalese. He told ESPN FC (/The Chelsea Chronicle):
“You have Nico Jackson up front, who is a willing runner. He’ll work hard; he’ll give you 100%. But he doesn’t make good decisions and I don’t think he’s a natural finisher.”
Jackson, who arrived from Villarreal for £32 million in 2023, has scored 17 goals and laid out six assists in 45 overall appearances for his club.
reportedly in talks with Napoli to rope in Victor Osimhen, Jackson could easily lose his first-team spot in Enzo Maresca’s setup.
Michael Owen suggests Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is playing superstar in wrong role
Speaking on the Premier League Productions, former Liverpool striker Michael Owen opined on Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s decision to start Cole Palmer on the right wing on Sunday. He said (h/t Metro):
“I’m sure the manager watched how good he was last season and the position he played in and everything else. And you would just think that when you’re picking a team, your best players play in their best positions and you fit around them. You’re not going to push your best players into unfamiliar positions.”
Owen, who bagged 150 goals in 326 Premier League games, added:
“If I was the manager, he’d be first on the teamsheet in his favored position and then I’d work around it, but it seems like they’ve bought so many players that they’re trying to shuffle the pack. The manager [said] before the game Palmer can play in any of those positions around the front and I’m sure he can but I would prefer him to be at his best and getting the ball in a more central area.”
Palmer, 22, relished a breakout season, playing primarily in a number 10 role, in the 2023-24 campaign. He found the back of the net 25 times and provided 15 assists in 45 games across competitions for Chelsea.
With the Blues recently signing Pedro Neto and allegedly keen to rope in Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix, Palmer could be moved to a central role.