Nicolas Jackson
Action Images via Reuters
Nicolas Jackson could prove to be Chelsea's biggest mistake as he continues to find the net at will for Aston Villa. It's already five goals in eight games for the 25-year-old, who joined Villa on a £65million deal from Chelsea in the summer.
Unai Emery knew what he was getting with Jackson having been partly responsible for the striker landing his move to Chelsea from Villarreal. Emery played a key part in Jackson's development, giving him first-team opportunities aplenty and holding him to a high standard as a youngster.
Jackson and Emery won the Europa League together with the Castellón club, and he knew he could get the best out of the striker at Villa Park. The question is why Chelsea couldn't do the same, and why they didn't give Jackson the chance to become the striker he appears to be.
The answer is simple. Chelsea were weak when they should have stood by a player they initially believed in. Jackson didn't set the world alight as a young player for Chelsea, but he certainly showed signs of having the potential to become a top Premier League striker.
When he was in form, the Senegalese frontman made easy work of opposing defences, and he was trending in the right direction, scoring 30 goals across two seasons as a still young player.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on
But everything changed when he got sent off at Newcastle United, leading to claims of ill-discipline that spiralled when he got sent off again during the FIFA Club World Cup months later.
After that second red card, the media hammered Jackson, and Enzo Maresca caved to that media attention, failing to protect the player, who was clearly struggling mentally on the back of the criticism. With what Jackson had shown as a young player, Chelsea should have been throwing their full weight behind Jackson to dismiss any talk of ill-discipline.
Maresca had every right to have a pop at him behind the scenes, but he could and should have done more to protect him publicly. But it was allowed to spiral, and the result was bridges being burnt.
The result was Jackson being sent on loan to Bayern Munich, where he did well, and ultimately being sold to Premier League rivals Villa.
Had Chelsea had some foresight, they would have realised that red cards were not a regular occurrence in Jackson's career, and a discipline problem rarely starts at the age of 23. He was a young player who needed backing to continue developing during a tough stretch of form. Imagine Man Utd had caved so easily amid Wayne Rooney's discipline issues?
Jackson is not Rooney, but the point remains. You back talented young players as they bid to become established players and just as importantly, grown men.
Jackson has been through that process, and he is now showing what he can do when he is backed and trusted, scoring two more brilliantly-finished goals against Fenerbahce and looking like an elite finisher, both with his finishing and the way he carries the ball.
Chelsea legend Joe Cole said on TNT Sport's coverage of the game: "That touch there, where he shifts it, there is no backlift. It's a beautiful strike.
"It's his fourth goal in three games, there were question marks about him at Chelsea and then at Bayern playing second-fiddle to Harry Kane. But he looks like he has found a home and a father figure. There is certainly talent there."
He can play as an out-and-out striker and drift out wide and look just as comfortably, and if Chelsea aren't looking at Jackson now and wondering why they didn't remain patient, they still haven't learned the very important lesson this situation should have taught them.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on