Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has offered his perspective on the recent tension between Nicolas Jackson and fellow ex-Blues player Mikel Obi, suggesting that Jackson’s strong reaction stemmed from the source of the criticism—a former Chelsea star.
Last month, Mikel Obi criticized Jackson following Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, questioning whether the Senegalese striker met the club's standards. In response, Jackson put on an impressive display in Chelsea’s next match, a victory over Wolves, and later addressed Mikel’s comments on social media.
In a now-deleted Instagram story, Jackson directly tagged Mikel and wrote: "Shut your mouth, don't talk sh*t, we are killing ourselves for Africa."
The post sparked a wave of reactions, with Mikel later clarifying that his remarks were not meant to be disrespectful. However, Essien believes the fact that the criticism came from a former player deepened the impact.
“We all have our personalities. Some will say it, but for me, I would just ignore it," Essien told Joy Sports. “Everyone has an opinion, but I think it’s not personal. However, when the criticism comes from ex-players, it hurts the players even more, and then they react.”
Since the incident, Jackson has bounced back, scoring two goals and providing one assist in four matches across all competitions for Chelsea. His recent performances indicate a positive response to the criticism as he continues to grow at the London club.
