A lot of criticism was being handed to one Chelsea player in particular as a result of their 3-1 loss at the Club World Cup to Flamengo.
Nicolas Jackson had only just entered the field of play when he was sent off for a horrible challenge, seeing Chelsea reduced to 10 men in their fight to come back.
Jackson will be banned for one game as per FIFA’s official rules, which will likely see Enzo Maresca deploy Liam Delap again against ES Tunis.
John Obi Mikel has been critical of Jackson since his move to Stamford Bridge, with his standards remaining high from his days as a Chelsea player.
John Obi Mikel’s brutal reaction to Nicolas Jackson’s red card
The club legend was on punditry duty for the Chelsea game, and he previously criticised Noni Madueke for his performance in the opening group game against LAFC.
Now, he told DAZN that what Jackson did was ‘stupid’, and cost his team in a game where a comeback was still a possibility.
He said: “Unbelievable. Stupid, stupid, stupid mistake. I don’t know what is 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 his…”
Jackson is banned for the first Premier League game of the new season against Crystal Palace due to his red card against Newcastle at the end of last season.
Mikel wants a new striker at Chelsea
Mikel has made it no secret who he has wanted Chelsea to sign as a new striker, and it wasn’t Delap.
The Nigerian wanted his countryman, Victor Osimhen, to join the club, after being linked with a switch to West London for a number of years now.
Mikel is disappointed a deal for Osimhen is unlikely now, however the player’s reported wage demands make the signing unrealistic.
With him always critical of the current Chelsea squad, expect to hear more from the former midfielder throughout the rest of the tournament, particularly if Chelsea exit at any stage.
