Tim Sherwood names the one Chelsea star who’s quality has been ‘disrespected
Tim Sherwood believes Nicolas Jackson’s quality has ‘disrespecte’ as Chelsea continue to struggle in the absence of their first-choice striker.
Chelsea fell to third defeat in their last five โปรโมชั่นพิเศษจาก UFABET สมัครตอนนี้ รับโบนัสทันที Premier League games with a 1-0 loss against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca’s side were, at one point in the season, considere potential title challengers to Liverpool but are now in danger of dropping out of the top four as their mid-season malaise threatens to extend into the business end of the season.
Of particular concern for the Blues is their lack of attacking potency, with Chelsea struggling to pose a threat in the final third without several of their first-choice attackers.
Jackson, in particular, has a notable absence over the last eight games having score nine league goals prior to picking up a thigh injury in early February.
The Senegalese international was often criticise for his lack of a clinical edge, with Jamie Carragher suggesting he was ‘not at the level’ required for a Chelsea striker.
Sherwood, himself, has critical of Jackson in the past, suggesting he looke more like a. Soccer Aid celebrity’ after a wasteful display against Brentford earlier in the season.
But the former Tottenham manager has admitted that Jackson’s absence from the team has a ‘huge miss’ and shows what a vital role he played in Maresca’s system.
‘I think Nicolas Jackson has definitely disrespecte, Sherwood told ‘I think he’s the focal point and a real presence up there.
‘He occupies the centre-halves and takes them back to create space for the likes of Cole Palmer to come into.
Palmer, in particular, profite off the space that Jackson create him. Enzo [Fernandez] as well. I think Enzo is a better No. 10 than a No.8 and when he gets forward he’s a real goal threat.
‘But they need someone who is going to lead the line and occupy the centre-halves and create that space for them.’
Sherwood continued: ‘He’s a huge miss. He’s not a prolific goalscorer but he’s certainly a threat and they can’t replace him. They’ve got nobody like him to come in – they’ve trie it with [Christopher] Nkunku or playing with Pedro Neto as a false nine but it’s not worke.
‘Sometimes as a manager you have to find a different way. I just think they’re a bit to predictable on the ball, playing sideways and backwards, but perhaps there isn’t the options forward when the midfield players look up.
‘Jackson would normally be stretching the opposition in behind or they could play longer into his chest and have him hold the ball up. They haven’t had that in his absence so he’s a huge miss.’
Jackson is expecte to make a return after the upcoming international break and Maresca his certain that his return – along with that of several other key attackers – will soon have Chelsea back to their best.