Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is under fire after getting a red card in a key match against Flamengo during the Club World Cup, but manager Enzo Maresca and his teammates are standing by him, believing that the young striker will learn, improve, and come back stronger.
A Turning Point in the Match
Speaking after the game, Maresca didn’t shy away from admitting how things went wrong:
“Six minutes changed the game,” he said. “We started better in the second half, but then conceded two quick goals and had a red card. That changed everything.”
Chelsea was only trailing 2-1 with about 30 minutes left to play. There was still time to turn things around. But when Jackson received a red card, the team was left with 10 men — and the match slipped out of reach. Flamengo took full advantage, securing a win and knocking Chelsea out of the Club World Cup.
Despite the frustration, Maresca insisted the red card won’t affect Jackson’s future with the club:
“The red card doesn’t change anything about his future,” he added.
Jackson has since apologized to the team, showing remorse for what happened.
But not everyone is being patient. Former Chelsea midfielder and club legend John Obi Mikel was one of the most outspoken critics, slamming Jackson for what he called a “stupid mistake.”
“Unbelievable, stupid, stupid, stupid mistake,” Mikel said during his TV appearance on Dazn. “What was going through his head? Your team is down 2-1, they need you — and then you get sent off?”
Mikel reminded viewers this isn’t Jackson’s first slip-up. He pointed back to a similar mistake in a crucial match against Newcastle last season, which Chelsea also lost.
“You can’t keep making the same mistakes. This is Chelsea Football Club — a massive team. If you're upset about having competition like Delap, then step up. Big players don’t run away from a challenge.”
Mikel even suggested that manager Maresca may need to ask himself a hard question: should Jackson still be the first-choice striker? Or is it time to give the new signing Liam Delap a proper run?
Support from the Dressing Room
Despite the criticism, Jackson isn’t alone. Defender Marc Cucurella came to his teammate’s defense after the game.
“He’s very sad. He tried to win the ball, but it was unlucky — he kicked the player’s leg,” Cucurella said. “He’s a young guy with a lot of talent. Yes, he needs to improve in some areas, but he’s learning.”
Cucurella also said Jackson apologized to the team after the match, and that he didn’t mean to hurt anyone:
“He didn’t do it on purpose. He’s important for us. He will learn from this.”
Is Delap the Future?
After the match, attention quickly shifted to Liam Delap, Chelsea’s new signing from Ipswich Town. The Blues spent £30 million to bring him in, just a day after winning the UEFA Conference League — a sign that Maresca wants serious firepower up front.
Delap may be only 21 years old, but he’s already impressed. He scored 12 goals in 37 games for Ipswich last season, and even better, he once scored 24 goals for Maresca’s Manchester City U-23 side in 2021. That team also featured current Chelsea players Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia — so Maresca clearly trusts Delap’s abilities.
Jackson and Delap are now in a direct battle for the striker role.
In Chelsea’s first Club World Cup game — a 2-0 win against Los Angeles FC — Jackson started and provided an assist. Delap came on later and set up a goal for Enzo Fernandez.
In the next match against Flamengo, Delap got his first start, but struggled to make an impact. He received a yellow card and was eventually substituted. After Jackson’s red card, young striker Marc Guiu came off the bench as a third option.
Maresca Wants Healthy Competition
Earlier in the tournament, Maresca made it clear that he wants competition among his forwards — and he’s watching closely how Jackson reacts.
“I’m curious to see how Nico reacts to Delap,” the manager said before the LAFC match. “He’s been competing with Marc Guiu all season. They are all good No.9s.”
Healthy competition is something every big club thrives on. At Chelsea, it's not enough to have talent — you have to fight for your place every day. Delap may not have had the perfect debut, but he’s shown enough in the past to deserve a shot. And Jackson now has to prove that he can handle pressure, learn from mistakes, and bounce back stronger.
Time to Learn and Rise Again
Jackson’s red card was painful — for him, for the team, and for the fans. But mistakes are part of football. The question now is how he responds.
He's still young, still growing, and still has the potential to be a star. Chelsea fans have seen his flashes of brilliance. But they also want consistency, discipline, and leadership.
He has apologized. He knows he let the team down. And now, it’s time for him to show that he can turn that pain into power — not just for himself, but for the badge, for his teammates, and for everyone who believes in him.
Because at Chelsea, the standard is high. The passion is real. And the only way forward is together.
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