Michael Essien has provided insight into the recent clash between Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson and club legend Mikel Obi, shedding light on the situation after Jackson’s outburst.
The disagreement began when Mikel publicly questioned Jackson’s ability to lead Chelsea’s attack after their 2-0 loss to Manchester City.
Nicolas Jackson disappointed after a missed chance for Chelsea. Credit: Getty Images
Jackson’s Fiery Response to Mikel
Mikel’s remarks clearly struck a nerve with Jackson, who took to Instagram with a now-deleted post that read: “Shut your mouth, don’t talk sh*t, we are killing ourselves for Africa.”
Nicolas Jackson responded to Mikel Obi’s comments (Instagram)
The heated exchange quickly sparked debates among fans and pundits, and Mikel later clarified that his criticism wasn’t intended to be personal.
MIchael Essien on Why Criticism from Ex-Players Hurts
Michael Essien defends Jackson’s comment
Essien, a former teammate of Mikel, explained in an interview with Joy Sports why Jackson’s reaction was particularly strong, stating that criticism from former players can sting more than usual.
“When the criticism comes from ex-players, it hurts the players even more, and then they react,” Essien remarked.
Since the incident, Jackson has responded with solid performances on the pitch, scoring twice and delivering an assist in four appearances, showing that he’s channeling his frustration into improving his game for Chelsea.
