Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has called on forward Nicolas Jackson to learn from his costly red card in their 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle United on Sunday. The dismissal leaves the Blues without a recognised striker for their crucial final two Premier League fixtures.
Jackson, 23, was sent off in the 36th minute at St. James’ Park following a VAR review for serious foul play. The automatic suspension means he will miss Chelsea’s home clash against Manchester United on Friday and their final game of the season away at Nottingham Forest on May 25th.
Speaking to reporters after the match, a clearly disappointed Maresca stated his intention to address the issue with the Senegalese international. “I didn’t speak to Nico, it’s not the moment. We will speak in the next day. No doubt he has to learn from it, especially at this stage of the season,†the Italian manager said.
He emphasised the importance of having a full squad available at this critical juncture of the campaign. “You have to avoid this kind of thing. You need all your squad available. It happened, and he will be out. Hopefully, he can learn for the future.â€
Jackson’s suspension compounds Chelsea’s attacking woes, with Christopher Nkunku still sidelined due to injury and young forward Marc Guiu not yet fully fit. This leaves Maresca with a significant shortage of options to lead the line in their remaining games.
“Jackson is our nine, the other one is Marc Guiu, who has been injured for three months and is close to being back,†Maresca explained. “We need to find a different solution.â€
Despite the defeat, Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, a position that would secure Champions League qualification for next season. However, with Aston Villa breathing down their necks, level on points but behind on goal difference, and Nottingham Forest just a single point adrift, the pressure is mounting on Maresca and his team.
Acknowledging the tight race for Champions League spots, Maresca believes maximum points are required from their final two matches. “My feeling is you need to win both games (to qualify for the Champions League),†he admitted, highlighting the significance of their upcoming fixtures without their first-choice striker.
