Following a thrilling victory by Chelsea over Nottingham Forest, there has been a clamor for Mauricio Pochettino to sideline Nicolas Jackson, the team’s striker.
In the match at the City Ground, Mykhailo Mudryk’s early goal gave Forest the lead, with Willy Boly and former Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi extending their advantage, leaving the Blues facing a disheartening defeat.
However, with just two games remaining, Pochettino’s side managed to salvage a draw against sixth-placed Newcastle United and secured a thrilling win in a five-goal encounter, with two goals in the final ten minutes.
The decisive moment came when, only two minutes after Raheem Sterling’s equalizer, Jackson headed in a cross from Chelsea captain Reece James to secure the victory against Forest.
Despite the match-winning goal, Jackson faced criticism from former England winger Chris Waddle, who suggested that Chelsea should look to sign a new striker during the summer transfer window.
Jackson has managed to score 14 goals in 33 Premier League appearances this season and celebrated his goal by jumping into the away end with the traveling supporters.
Reflecting on the exciting Premier League clash, Waddle shared his thoughts on BBC Radio 5 Live, acknowledging Chelsea’s talent and quality players but emphasizing the need for a reliable goal scorer.
He commented, “Chelsea have got ability and some very excellent players. If Chelsea acquires a center forward, they will compete to finish in the top four the next year.” However, he noted that they narrowly won the match against Forest.
Waddle further criticized Jackson during the halftime break, suggesting that Chelsea struggled to operate with a striker due to his lackluster performance.
He remarked, “So far, a reasonable result. Forest has had more opportunities, but Chelsea has controlled the ball and isn’t trying to harm Forest. There isn’t a center forward for Chelsea. You are unable to convince me that Raheem Sterling is inferior to Nicolas Jackson!”
After Chelsea managed to overturn a 3-2 deficit and secure victory against Nottingham Forest, Pochettino praised his team for their resilience.
He stated, “The finest thing is the manner that we constantly believe till the end—football is about battling. I am thrilled with our revival because the players that came off the bench had a major difference.” Pochettino highlighted the importance of finishing the season strongly to carry momentum into the next year.
Pochettino also reflected on the challenges faced earlier in the season, acknowledging the team’s struggles in the opening games but emphasizing their improvement over the course of the campaign.
He said, “We were penalized in our first ten games, if we are being honest. Although we did a terrific job, we blew a lot of opportunities and lacked clinical execution. All of the data indicated that our position was erroneous.”
Despite the setback against Forest, defeats for Burnley and Luton Town earlier in the day almost guaranteed Nottingham Forest’s Premier League status for the following season.