After Chelsea’s tough 2-0 loss to Manchester City in their opening Premier League match, former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel took to his podcast to share his thoughts on the team’s performance, specifically calling out young striker Nicolas Jackson. Mikel, while discussing Chelsea’s struggles, criticized Jackson’s finishing, saying the team needed a striker who could consistently score goals, similar to the likes of Erling Haaland.

Mikel mentioned that even though Jackson dribbled past several defenders during the game, his final shot was disappointing. He stressed that Chelsea needed a striker who could regularly find the back of the net, and that the team’s lack of a reliable goal-scorer was hurting their performance.

Jackson, however, didn’t stay silent. In response to Mikel’s comments, Jackson took to Instagram after Chelsea’s thrilling 6-2 victory over Wolves, where he scored the fastest goal of the current Premier League season. He posted about his performance and took a shot at Mikel with a blunt message telling him to “shut your mouth” and adding, “We are killing ourselves for Africa.”

The heated exchange has grabbed the attention of Chelsea fans and the broader football community. Some fans agree with Mikel, believing that Jackson still has room to improve, while others praise Jackson’s confidence and determination to prove himself on the field.

Regardless of opinions, it’s clear that Jackson is eager to make a statement and continue performing at his best for Chelsea as the season progresses.