Sports
Nicolas Jackson Turns Down Chelsea’s No 9 Shirt
Leading the forward line at Chelsea presents a daunting challenge, as evidenced by the struggles of past players like Romelu Lukaku, Fernando Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Alvaro Morata, all of whom bore the infamous No 9 shirt, considered cursed at the Cobham training ground.
Upon his arrival from Villarreal, Jackson had the opportunity to claim the number but declined, despite having worn it for Senegal. This decision left Chelsea among the few Premier League clubs without a designated No 9, along with Aston Villa, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Wolves.
Instead, Jackson opted for the unconventional No 15, the same number Didier Drogba wore when he initially joined Chelsea. Given this choice, comparisons to Drogba were inevitable, given the digits on his back.
Drogba scored 10 Premier League goals in his debut season, helping Chelsea clinch the title under Jose Mourinho. Jackson, currently on nine goals from 24 games, finds himself in a campaign where Chelsea sits 11th. Mauricio Pochettino believes that with time, Jackson will develop composure in front of goal, despite spending this season urging supporters to be patient with the Premier League newcomer.
Jackson’s most commendable trait may be his willingness to acknowledge his mistakes and refuse to let them impede his progress. In a match against Brentford, he stumbled while attempting step-overs in the box, a moment that fueled social media memes. However, Jackson responded by scoring a powerful header, silencing the Brentford fans who had been taunting him.
In another match against Newcastle, he scored a cleverly disguised flick after just six minutes, initially confusing even the Stamford Bridge announcer, who attributed the goal to Cole Palmer. Although a second goal was disallowed due to offside, Jackson’s flicked header set up Raheem Sterling for a one-on-one chance, showcasing his potential for assists.
Despite facing criticism, Jackson, at 22 years old and in his debut season with Chelsea, is proving why it would be premature to dismiss him as a failure. He is leading the line for a club undergoing significant changes and holding his own on the pitch.
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has insisted he was not expecting Cole Palmer to have a big impact at Chelsea.
Palmer joined the Blues from Manchester City in a £42 million deal in August.
The 21-year-old has now scored 20 Premier League goals and is joint-top scorer with former City teammate Erling Haaland.
When asked if he’s surprised at how many goals Palmer has scored since moving to Stamford Bridge, Pochettino responded: “We believe they can perform but it is true he is performing in a very good way; maybe above expectation. I think it’s his first consistent season playing but we need to be careful because he is still young, he is growing, he needs to develop in different areas.
“But of course, he is far away from what we expected from the beginning. I need to be honest.”
CREDIT: DAILY POST
The Nigerian Super Falcons are set to begin their journey at the 2024 Olympic Games by facing Brazil in their opening match. The match is scheduled to take place at Stade Matmut-Atlantique in Bordeaux, France, on Thursday, July 25, starting at 6 pm.
Following this, Randy Waldrum’s team will go up against world champions Spain three days later at Stade de la Beujoire in Nantes, also at 6 pm.
Their final group stage match will be against Japan on Wednesday, July 31, at Stade de la Beujoire in Nantes, with a kick-off time of 4 pm.
Having secured their place in Paris 2024 by defeating South Africa 1-0 on aggregate last week, the nine-time African champions are gearing up for the tournament.
Wembley Stadium appears to be the chosen venue for the highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. The much-discussed bout is likely to proceed, contingent on Fury’s victory against Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 in Riyadh.
Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, expresses confidence that the super fight will take place in London rather than Saudi Arabia. Arum believes that the Saudis, despite their substantial financial influence and ability to determine the location, would prefer to host the event at Wembley Stadium with a capacity crowd of 95,000, where they could act as promoters. He suggests that this choice would enhance their image more than holding the fight in Saudi Arabia.
However, Joshua may have to wait before facing Fury, as the latter might engage in a doubleheader against his Ukrainian opponent. Arum acknowledges that if Fury defeats Usyk and secures another victory in a potential rematch, it would be ideal for him to culminate his career with a significant fight in the UK at Wembley Stadium. Arum emphasizes the competitiveness of the upcoming match on May 18, recognizing Usyk as a formidable challenger who will push Fury to his limits. He also notes Fury’s dedication to training diligently for the upcoming bout.
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