John Mikel Obi has made a significant about-turn on his assessment of Nicolas Jackson, conceding that Chelsea are struggling in the absence of the Senegalese striker who joined Bayern Munich on loan last year. The admission came during the latest episode of The Obi One Podcast, recorded in the wake of Chelsea’s heavy defeat at the weekend.
Chelsea were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City, a result that extended their winless run to six of their last seven Premier League matches. The loss compounded growing concerns about the club’s attacking output, with the absence of a striker capable of replicating Jackson’s contributions becoming increasingly apparent.
“We say so many times he was a fantastic player, and I actually think right now we’re missing him… What he gave us, no striker has given us,” Mikel said on the podcast. “Pressing high, the way he was pressing aggressively, well. His connection between him and Cole Palmer – Cole Palmer looks lost without Nicolas Jackson right now. The creativity that he had, the link-up play… Nobody is giving us that. Yes, we are missing Nicolas Jackson.”
Mikel was candid about Jackson’s limitations in front of goal while maintaining that his overall contribution to the team’s structure was undervalued. “Was his scoring enough? Maybe not. Was he giving so much to the football club? Of course he was. Do we miss him? Absolutely.”
The comments represent a notable shift from the Nigerian’s earlier position. Mikel had previously been among Jackson’s most prominent critics, at one point stating that Chelsea would not win major honours with the Senegalese as their primary striker. Jackson responded directly at the time, publicly telling Mikel to “shut your mouth” — a back-and-forth that drew considerable attention from Chelsea supporters, many of whom felt Mikel’s criticism was disproportionate.
Addressing the apparent contradiction, Mikel framed his earlier remarks as an attempt to apply pressure rather than undermine the player. “What I said was about competition,” he clarified. “I just felt he wasn’t patient enough… I want to fight, I want to compete.”
Jackson, 23, joined Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 and made 82 appearances across all competitions for the club before departing on loan to Bayern Munich. Despite his inconsistent finishing — a frequent source of frustration among fans and pundits alike — the forward’s high defensive work rate, ability to stretch backlines, and combination play with Cole Palmer were central to Chelsea’s attacking structure under previous managers.
With Chelsea now sitting outside the top four and facing a congested run-in, the stakes are high. Manager Liam Rosenior’s side must regroup quickly, with a weekend fixture against Manchester United serving as a critical opportunity to reclaim a UEFA Champions League qualification spot. The outcome of that match could have significant implications for Chelsea’s European ambitions heading into the final weeks of the season.
The broader question of whether Chelsea’s recruitment adequately addressed the gap left by Jackson’s loan departure is one that will likely persist if results do not improve.
