“What the fans want to see” – Chelsea player picked out as example to others for one superb quality | OneFootball

John Obi Mikel got quite famous earlier in the season for criticising Nicolas Jackson on his podcast.

Well here we are a few months later, the the former Blue is signing the Senegal star’s praises.

After missing two months with injury, it was made very clear what the striker’s strengths are. The team missed him desperately, and the improvements we saw with him back in the team to face Tottenham and then again in the second half against Brentford at the weekend made his value to Enzo Maresca’s side clear.

“He will put defenders on the back foot, he will run and run and run, he will run behind, he will run into the channels. His touch on the ball is good. He can bring other players into play, he can create something out of nothing. And that’s the thing, he is very physical in terms of chasing defenders down when he plays. The manager said it, and I agree with the manager: when Jackson plays we’re a different team. We play much better when he’s there, you can see that,” Mikel said of the number 9.

Jackson still has major room to improve

Nicolas Jackson battle for possession against Tottenham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Of course, Jackson’s work rate and link up play were never really in question – it was his finishing which was frustrating (and still frustrates, largely).

“He knows what he has to do to become a complete striker, and I hope he can continue to improve, continue to grow as a player,” Mikel continued.

“Because every time you watch him you can see he wants to do well for the club: his running, his chasing, he works his socks off. And what’s what I want to see, that’s what the Chelsea fans want to see. And it’s good to see, because he’s the guy who leads the line. So if he’s chasing, everybody follows.”