Mauricio Pochettino hits back at Alan Shearer and Chelsea fans over Nicolas Jackson criticism
Mauricio Pochettino has urged Chelsea fans to get behind striker Nicolas Jackson after he was subjected to criticism from supporters at Stamford Bridge as well as a scathing evaluation from Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer.
Fans were caught abusing Jackson during the Blues‘ recent 2-0 defeat to Brentford, causing manager Pochettino to fire back in defence of the misfiring forward.
All-time Premier League leading goalscorer Shearer also plucked the former Villarreal forward out for a negative review during his analysis on BBC’s flagship football show, highlighting his „complete lack of movement“.
„It’s really dangerous this type of analysis because it’s one game,“ Pochettino insisted. „I cannot lie, it wasn’t his best but we need to be fair. If you watch Luton, if you watch Dortmund in pre-season, if you watch Liverpool, you will see this is one player.
„Brentford game was another player. I agree with the analysis, but it’s not fair to say he is not this or you know. I agree with analysis, but not to say he is not capable to do what we expect of him.“
After a promising pre-season, Jackson has scored three goals in all competitions for Chelsea, two coming in the Premier League. He also received a one-game suspension after picking up five bookings in his first six games in the English top flight.
„You cannot abuse even if you say ‚wake up‘ because I think it is not right,“ Pochettino said of his interaction with a fan at Stamford Bridge this past weekend. „Of course, it is not the worst thing that has happened in football, but we are very sensitive in this situation where a player is suffering.
„For different reasons he is suffering, he has suffered an injury. You are at Chelsea and you are 22 and you want to perform and score goals and for the team to win.
„It was in the 43rd minute. I said after the game it was not a big problem, the fan is right to say ‚OK, come on, wake up,‘ but it was the moment, not the situation. Nico needs support. I understand the fans, they are entitled to say what they want, but it was a really quiet moment and it was out of context.
„At this moment you are fragile, you need help, you need confidence and you need trust and this can change your focus.“
Chelsea host Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.