Former Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has hit out at Senegalese striker, Nicolas Jackson, after he was sent off against Flamengo at the FIFA Club World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Enzo Maresca's side took the lead inside 13 minutes at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, but a second-half slip saw Chelsea's lead collapse within three minutes.
Their offside trap was poor, allowing Bruno Henrique and Danilo to come off the bench to score in the 62nd and 65th minutes.
NICOLAS JACKSON RED CARD! pic.twitter.com/MyFzbhF0JZ
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) June 20, 2025
Liam Delap started up front for Chelsea, but came off for Nicolas Jackson in the 64th minute. Four minutes later, Jackson was sent off after throwing his studs into the shin of a Flamengo defender, marking his 24th birthday in an uninspiring fashion.
The referee, Ivan Barton, was right on the spot to give Jackson his marching orders without conversing with the Video Assistant Referee.
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“I’ve always said what I’ve said” – Mikel Obi reveals the one flaw holding Nicolas Jackson back
What Mikel Obi said about Nicolas Jackson
Now on punditry duties with DAZN, the one-time UEFA Champions League winner didn't hold back after Jackson's red card saw Chelsea reduced to ten men.
“Unbelievable. Stupid, stupid, stupid mistake,” the 38-year-old said in quotes revealed by Sky Sports.
“I don't know what's going through his head. You come into the game, you're 2-1 down, your team needs you, and you do that.
“He did it in the important Premier League game against Newcastle, when we needed to win to qualify for the Champions League places, and he has done it again. You can't keep making mistakes.”
“I don't care what his frustration is. Chelsea is a massive football club, and it's about competition.
“If you are angry, if you are p****d off that Delap is coming to the club and he is going to be your competition, you have to embrace it.
“If you are a big player, you embrace it. Jackson needs to have a look at himself and think about where he wants his Chelsea career to go from here.
“The manager has brought in a striker, so now if the manager starts to doubt him, if he keeps making mistakes and letting his team-mates and the club down, then it is time for Delap to start the games.
“The manager has a decision to make now,” Mikel continued.
“It was a red card, so nothing to say,” Enzo Maresca said.
Marc Cucurella defended his teammate, and backed him to come back stronger from this mishap.
“It is a bit of bad luck. He tried to put his foot in to kick the ball but he kicked the player's leg. That's it. We now miss him for the next game.
“He is a young player with a lot of quality and maybe he needs to improve this. We are not perfect, it's part of the game,” the Spanish full-back said.
Jackson's Apology
The 24-year-old attacker took to his Instagram story to pen down an apology message to the club and his teammates.
“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.
Nicolas Jackson statement after red card.
“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… pic.twitter.com/ov2F8b6Kyh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2025
“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 wrote.
Goalkeeping Problems?
Chelsea's entire backline, including the goalkeeper, were caught ball-watching for Flamengo's first two goals, and Mikel revealed how the lack of leadership in the club's defence cost them last night.
“When you talk about leaders, people who can be on the pitch and control the game and their team-mates, that is what Chelsea had when the likes of John Terry and Didier Drogba were at the club.
“People who can call the players around and say, ‘Listen, let's calm down a bit'. I don't see that here, I don't see leaders. I just see players making mistakes.”
“I've talked about him so many times. Sanchez, I don't think he is a goalkeeper who can lead us to winning titles.
“If you want to win titles and become a big football club, you need to have a top goalkeeper. For me, I've said it so many times, he's not that guy, he's not that goalkeeper.
“We need to strengthen this summer and bring in a top, top goalkeeper if we want to compete in terms of winning titles,” the 2013 AFCON winner concluded.
