John Obi Mikel happy for Nicolas Jackson’s new form

By Monsurah Olatunji 

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has asserted that criticism can lead to improvement, particularly in light of Nicolas Jackson’s recent form in front of goal.

After Mikel expressed concerns about Jackson’s finishing skills a few weeks ago, the young striker has responded positively, scoring four goals in his last five Premier League matches.

Last weekend, Jackson played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over West Ham, netting twice and providing an assist.

His earlier reaction to Mikel’s criticism included a cheeky Instagram Story in which he wrote, “Shut your mouth, don’t talk sh*t, we are killing ourselves for Africa.”

Despite Jackson’s resurgence, Mikel’s comments highlight a larger issue for Chelsea, as he believes the team still lacks a consistently reliable goal-scorer. “It seems Jackson has taken the critiques to heart and found his form,” Mikel said on his ObiOne Podcast. “If the players are listening and trying to improve, that’s what I want.”

He added, “After just a few matches, people were saying, ‘Mikel, you’ve created an absolute monster of a striker.’ That’s what I aim for. The guy is scoring goals, doing well, and helping us win games.”