‘I Never Said He's a Bad Player’ — Mikel Obi Clarifies Nicolas Jackson Criticism [VIDEO]

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi defends his criticism of Nicolas Jackson's finishing, claiming he never called him a bad player, after Jackson's cheeky “shut up” response on Instagram.

Mikel Obi, former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder, addressed the controversy surrounding his criticism of Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson on BeIN Sports' Champions League night punditry.

Obi's Clarification

“I've always said what I said about Nicolas Jackson,” Obi explained. “There's no time I said he is a bad player; he needs to improve on his finishing.”

The Backstory

Obi's initial criticism of Nicolas Jackson's finishing sparked a reaction from the Chelsea forward:

Mikel Obi: Jackson's finishing is poor and has cost Chelsea many chances.

Nicolas Jackson's Response: Tagged Mikel Obi in an Instagram story with “shut up” after scoring.

Jackson's Cheeky Response

Mikel Obi revealed Jackson's lighthearted jab:

“When he scored, he told me to shut up!” Obi chuckled.

Obi's Praise for Jackson

Despite criticizing Jackson's finishing, Obi acknowledges his potential:

"Nicolas Jackson is a talented player...”

“He's got the pace, the skill, and the work rate.”

"When he scored he told me to shut up!"

Mikel John Obi discusses Nicolas Jackson with the panel!#beINUCL #CFC @obionepodcast pic.twitter.com/iWYLZl1rWe

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) September 17, 2024

The Panel's Reaction

Fellow pundits weighed in on the debate:

• Agreeing with Obi's assessment of Jackson's finishing
• Praising Jackson's confidence and resilience
• Emphasizing the importance of constructive criticism

As the season unfolds:

• Jackson's continued development and improvement
• Chelsea's push for domestic and European success
• Mikel Obi's ongoing analysis and insights as a pundit