Didier Drogba’s very bold prediction about Nicolas Jackson which he made last season has come true with the striker flying in the Premier League.
Nicolas Jackson has been on fire this season for Chelsea and has been key in helping Enzo Maresca’s team climb into second place. But that hasn’t always been the case during his time at Stamford Bridge with the striker having taken his time to settle in at Chelsea.
But one man who always believed the 23-year-old would eventually come good is Drogba and what he said about Jackson last summer has proven to be true.
Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa FC at Stamfo...
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
What Didier Drogba said about Nicolas Jackson last season
Didier Drogba urged Jackson to keep believing in himself last season when the striker was being heavily criticised. Now, eight months on and the Chelsea forward is now seen as one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old’s overall contribution to the team was being heavily scrutinised by supporters with the team sitting ninth in the table. But regardless of the outside noise, Jackson retained the support of Drogba who wrote on X: “Keep your head High UP and never stop working hard, it will pay off.”
The Senegalese centre-forward is now spearheading Chelsea’s Premier League title charge having netted nine times in 15 league matches. Jackson was shown the support of another legendary Premier League striker, Thierry Henry.
The Arsenal legend told Sky Sports: “He’s on his way to becoming that [the ‘real deal’]. It’s a long road. One thing that is difficult when you play for a team like Chelsea and the teams at the top is that you get compared to who was there before. Maybe you are not the same type of striker, you are a different striker. But you’re going to get compared to Drogba or whoever played before you.
“But what I do think what they are doing is remarkable and they don’t have anything else to play for, I know they are in the Conference League, but they are really concentrating on the league and that can be a massive plus for them.”
Nicolas Jackson leads Mohamed Salah in one key stat
Nicolas Jackson’s improvement in such a short space of time is quite incredible and his goal-scoring record speaks for itself. The striker now has 23 league goals from open play since the start of last season which is the third highest and more than Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
k
Player Goals from open play
Haaland 32
Watkins 25
Jackson 23
Isak 23
Salah 22
Solanke 22
Wood 22
Most Premier League goals from open play
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