'Stupid, stupid, stupid' – Jackson opens door for Delap
On the day Liam Delap made his first start for Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson's response was to get himself sent off four minutes after replacing his new rival in the striker department.Jackson was dismissed on his 24th birthday after a late, studs-up challenge on Flamengo defender Lucas Ayrton at the end of a disastrous six-minute collapse where goals from Bruno Henrique and Danilo cancelled out Pedro Neto's early strike.Wallace Yan rounded off the scoring with a late goal as Flamengo beat the Blues 3-1 in the Club World Cup.It was the least a confident Flamengo, led by former Chelsea defender Felipe Luis, deserved. But the scapegoat will almost certainly be the Senegal international striker. It was, after all, his second red card in four matches and he is now suspended in two competitions - the Premier League and Club World Cup.It means Delap will likely start the next match - an important clash against Tunisian side ES Tunis - and the opening game of the Premier League season at home to Crystal Palace. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is anticipating a longer ban as he suspects Jackson's red card for such reckless foul could rule him out of the competition.When asked about the sending off, he said: "It happened against Newcastle and today. I am not 100 percent sure it's a red card compared to the Newcastle one. "It's a little bit of a bad moment for Nico. The red card has nothing to do with Nico's future... Nico knows in both games it was not good for the team."Jackson apologised on Instagram while both defender Marc Cucurella and Maresca revealed the striker said sorry in person to his team-mates after the match.
'I'm so angry at myself'
Jackson issued a statement on social media less than two hours after the match had finished. It read: "I want to say sorry. To the club, the staff, my team-mates, and all the fans watching, I let you down."Another red card... and honestly, I'm so angry at myself. I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation. I still don't fully understand how it happened. "But one thing is clear: it wasn't intentional. Just a football moment that went the wrong way."No excuses. I take full responsibility. I'll reflect, I'll grow, and I'll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me. Sorry."Chelsea manager Maresca said in his post-match press conference that the red card has no bearing on Jackson's future. "Six minutes changed the game," he said. "In the second half, we started better compared to the first half. But we conceded two goals in two minutes and then the red card. It changed the dynamic. They deserved to win."Nico apologised. At Newcastle, we were just 1-0 down and it was in the first half. Today, we were 2-1 down but with half-an-hour left. There was time to play, but with one man down it became all the more difficult."
Jackson criticised for 'stupid mistake'
One of Jackson's long-time critics is former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who featured on the TV broadcast of the game on Dazn. He said: "[It's an] unbelievable, stupid, stupid stupid mistake, I don't know what is going through his head. You come into the game at 2-1 down and your team needs you and he does that. "He did that at Newcastle, a very important game we needed to win to get to the Champions League. You can't keep making mistakes. I don't care what his frustration is, it is massive club, Chelsea Football Club. "If you are annoyed that Delap is going to be the competition with you, if you are a big player you have to embrace it. We can become successful together as a team."Maresca must ask do I still trust this guy or do I stick with the player I brought into the football club, Delap? If he doesn't trust him then it is time for Delap to start the game. "It is the competition he is not embracing, he wants to be the only guy in the club. No, healthy competition is important. If he is not ready for it he shouldn't be at Chelsea Football Club."Cucurella defended his team-mate, saying: "He's very sad. He tried to win the ball, had the bad luck that he kicked his leg and that's it. He's a young player with a lot of quality but maybe needs to improve a little bit in these things."But he has to learn. After the manager spoke, he said sorry, he didn't do it on purpose. He's a very important player for us."
Could Delap replace Jackson?
Maresca said during the Premier League season that Jackson needs support from another forward and the Blues agreed a £30m fee with Ipswich for Delap just 24 hours after winning the Conference League. Delap scored 12 goals in 37 games for relegated Ipswich Town but also scored 24 times in Maresca's league-winning Manchester City Under-23 team in 2021, which also featured both Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia.Jackson started the 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in the opening Club World Cup match and delivered an assist. But Delap also set up a goal for Enzo Fernandez on his debut - as the pair battle to impress. Subsequently, Delap earned his first start against Flamengo but had a quiet game where he received a yellow card. Third striker option Marc Guiu came on after Jackson's dismissal. Maresca previously said of the competition for places before his match with LAFC: "I am curious to see how Nico reacts (to Delap). He competed with [Marc] Guiu who is very young during the season. They are both good No9s."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
22 minutes ago
- Metro
Filipe Luis makes huge Nicolas Jackson prediction after Chelsea red card
Filipe Luis insists Nicolas Jackson can become one of the best strikers in the world after his red card in Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Flamengo at the Club World Cup on Friday. Enzo Maresca's side took an early lead through Pedro Neto but collapsed in the second half as Jackson was sent off, while Flamengo scored three without reply. Jackson came on as a substitute for Liam Delap in the second half but just four minutes later he was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Ayrton Lucas. The Senegal international has faced criticised for his lack of consistency in front of goal during his time at Chelsea but Flamengo head coach Filipe Luis, who spent one season at Stamford Bridge as a player, is adamant that the striker will improve. When asked about Jackson's red card, Filipe Luis said: 'First of all, I love Chelsea. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'I spent one really happy season there, we won the Premier League and the League Cup and I made special friends and played with the best players in the world for a season, and I was really happy there. 'So I know how the club is special and how the club needs to win titles because of the pressure inside the club, it happens. 'But he [Jackson] is so good, he's young, he has all the potential and quality the club needs. 'I want to say sorry. To the club, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans watching, I let you down. 'Another red card and honestly, I'm so angry at myself. I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation. 'I still don't fully understand how it happened. But one thing is clear: it wasn't intentional. Just a football moment that went the wrong way. 'No excuses. I take full responsibility. I'll reflect, I'll grow, and I'll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.' 'For sure, he will surpass this little mistake. I think it was clear, I just saw it in front of me, I haven't seen it on the TV yet, but for me it was a red. 'But it is just a small detail for a player who is a big player, he can be one of the biggest strikers in the world.' Filipe Luis also claimed that Chelsea have been the best tactical team in Europe since Maresca took over from Mauricio Pochettino last year. More Trending 'I told Maresca, [I had] four days without sleeping, or sleeping really bad, because when I watch his team playing it's, for me, the most perfect tactical playing in Europe,' the former Chelsea defender said. 'He has all his solutions covered for the players and the players understood really well his model of play. 'It's so difficult to play against him, so that makes our win huge, so I'm really happy.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: John Obi Mikel worried for Chelsea star who keeps 'disappearing' in games MORE: How many games will Nicolas Jackson miss after red card at Club World Cup? MORE: John Obi Mikel blasts 'stupid' Nicolas Jackson and sends transfer warning after red card
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
Nicolas Jackson apologises for costly red card against Flamengo: ‘So angry at myself'
Nicolas Jackson apologised after his costly sending-off in Chelsea 's Club World Cup implosion against Flamengo. The Senegal striker was shown a straight red card – just four minutes after coming off the bench – for an aggressive studs-up challenge on Ayrton Lucas in Friday's 3-1 defeat in Philadelphia. It came amid a calamitous six-minute spell in the second period in which the Blues also conceded two goals to surrender their half-time lead. It was also Jackson's second dismissal in just four appearances having also been given his marching orders for a forearm crack on Newcastle's Sven Botman in a Premier League match last month. 'I want to say sorry,' Jackson wrote on Instagram on what was a 24th birthday to forget. 'To the club, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans watching, I let you down. 'Another red card… And honestly, I'm so angry at myself. I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation. 'I still don't fully understand how it happened. But one thing is clear: it wasn't intentional. Just a moment in football that went the wrong way. 'No excuses. I take full responsibility. I'll reflect, I'll grow, and I'll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me. 'Sorry. Sorry, Sorry.' Jackson's moment of madness, in which he forcefully caught Lucas on the shin, effectively ended Chelsea's hopes of getting back into the Group D contest at Lincoln Financial Field. Enzo Maresca 's side were already reeling after Pedro Neto's well-taken 14th-minute opener was cancelled out by Bruno Henrique after 62 minutes and quickly followed by another goal for veteran Danilo. Wallace Yan wrapped up the scoring seven minutes from time, putting Flamengo in charge of the group and potentially making Chelsea's route through the tournament complicated. Defender Marc Cucurella suggested discipline was an area Jackson needed to work on. The defender told DAZN: 'He is young player, he has a lot of quality, he maybe needs to improve this a little bit. We are here to improve, we are not perfect so it is part of the game.' Maresca did not deny the sending-off was damaging, though he tempered criticism by claiming it was not a clear-cut decision. Maresca said: 'Those six minutes completely changed the dynamic of the game. 'I'm not 100 per cent sure that it's a red card compared to the Newcastle one, but it can be and the referee decided it. 'It's a little bit of a bad moment for Nico in these things. He knows very well that both situations were not something good for the team.' Former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis, now the manager of Flamengo, backed Jackson to bounce back. 'It was a little mistake,' he said. 'It was a clear red for me but it is a small detail for a player who can be one of the biggest strikers in the world.' Chelsea, who now have three points from their opening two games, face ES Tunis in their final group game on Tuesday night (2am Wednesday BST).
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
‘It was not good' – Enzo Maresca reveals how red card will affect Nicolas Jackson's Chelsea future after horror tackle
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENZO MARESCA addressed Nicolas Jackson's Chelsea future after the striker's red card against Flamengo on Friday. The forward, on as a substitute, was sent off for a reckless tackle in the 68th minute. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Enzo Maresca spoke after his side's Club World Cup defeat Credit: Getty 4 Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a reckless tackle Credit: AP 4 Jackson, 24, received his marching orders in the 68th minute Credit: AFP The Blues had just gone 2-1 down when Jackson was dismissed and went on to concede another with ten men. After his side's 3-1 defeat, boss Maresca was asked if Jackson's discipline could cost him his Chelsea future, following Liam Delap's £30million arrival from Ipswich. The forward will be suspended for the Blues' final group match against ES Tunis, while he is also banned from the opening day of the new Premier League season following his red vs Newcastle last month. Maresca, 45, said: "No, the red card has nothing to do with Nico's future. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL END OF THE WORLD? Chelsea face awful Club World Cup last 16 draw after Flamengo collapse "He had the first one against Newcastle when Liam was not even here and another one. 'I'm not sure that it's 100 per cent a red card but the referee decided for that, and Nico knows very well that in both situations (it) was not something good for the team." After the game, Jackson posted a lengthy apology message on Instagram. It read: "Another red card… and honestly, I'm so angry at myself. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Liam Delap is set for a further opportunity against ES Tunis Credit: Getty 'I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation. "I still don't fully understand how it happened. But one thing is clear: it wasn't intentional. Chelsea vs Tottenham fan battle - 'Kane's better than Drogba at EVERYTHING' | Stoppage Time WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN "Just a football moment that went the wrong way. No excuses. I take full responsibility." Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella said of his team-mate: "He's very sad. He tried to win the ball, had the bad luck that he kicked his leg and that's it. "He's a young player with a lot of quality but maybe needs to improve a little bit in these things. He has to learn. "After the manager spoke, he said sorry, he didn't do it on purpose. He's a very important player for us, we miss him the next game but this is football." Chelsea will be back in action against ES Tunis on Tuesday night. With Jackson banned, new arrival Delap will be in line for another start.
