Premier League: Senegalese Nicolas Jackson's delicate adaptation at Chelsea

Despite his current status as Chelsea's top scorer in the Premier League (7 goals), Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson is far from thrilling Blues fans. His "indiscipline" on the pitch and his club's poor performances make him the ideal target for a lot of criticism at the moment.

Nicolas Jackson picked up his 8th yellow card of the season for Chelsea, against Wolverhampton. December 24, 2023. Action Images via Reuters - ANDREW BOYERS

By: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

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With Baptiste Leduc

It's a statistic that could allow Nicolas Jackson to see the glass as half full and his detractors perhaps to put things into perspective. With 7 goals in 16 games played in 17 games, the Senegalese international is doing better than Ivorian legend Didier Drogba on the same basis as his first season with Chelsea. The Elephant has scored only goals after 17 league games in his first season in the Premier League. Drogba finished the season with 10 goals before exploding in the following seasons.

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If I can be as successful as Drogba, Demba Ba and Eden Hazard, then I'll be happy. They are Chelsea legends. If I want to be considered a legend, I have to be even better than them," Jackson said after his first game for Chelsea last July. If he wants to do better than Didier Drogba, the former Villarreal player does not like to be compared to the ex-Marseille player whose jersey number he wears, 15. A few days ago, when a Blues fan tried to compliment him by calling him "the new Drogba", Nicolas Jackson did not take well to the praise. "Don't call me that. I'm not the new Drogba, I'm myself: Nicolas Jackson," he replies firmly.

Nicolas Jackson telling a fan not to call him the new Didier Drogba. pic.twitter.com/GvMWur0IRp

— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) December 17, 2023

An episode that illustrates the difficult graft between Chelsea fans and the Senegalese striker. Seven goals in 17 games is a respectable record, but not enough to relieve the frustration of London fans, disappointed with the results of the Blues, who have already been beaten eight times in the league. Mocking chants at the stadium or rants on social networks, many are asking for a replacement for the Senegalese. "He can't be Chelsea's striker, he doesn't have the shoulders. Jackson can be like (Michy) Batshuayi or Loïc Rémy. You see? Our second choice. »

More cards than goals...

Too timid, they say. Too "undisciplined too". With eight yellow cards received since the start of the season, Nicolas Jackson has been cautioned more often than he has found the net. A situation that does not worry his coach Mauricio Pochettino who is asking for time and indulgence for his protégé. "If you compare Jackson to strikers at his age, he scores a lot of goals. You can't blame him alone. Fans should criticize the team, because it's collective. He's young and it's his first season here. Expectations are high at Chelsea. »

He will also be under pressure with the Lions of Teranga, who will defend their title at the AFCON in less than three weeks. Pre-selected by Aliou Cissé, Nicolas Jackson inevitably ticked off Senegal's first match on January 15 against Gambia. The country where he was born 22 years ago.

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• Senegal
• United Kingdom
• Football
• AFCON 2024