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Premier League | Gameweek 24

Feb 12, 2024 at 8pm UK

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace
1 - 3
Chelsea

Lerma (30')
Lerma (70'), Munoz (80')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Gallagher (47', 90+1'), Fernandez (90+4')
Jackson (90+4'), Disasi (90+2')

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino encouraged by Nicolas Jackson display on left flank

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 09 February 2024

Pochettino encouraged by Jackson display on left flank

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino admits that he was left impressed by the performance of Nicolas Jackson from the left flank in Chelsea's win over Aston Villa in midweek.

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that he feels that Nicolas Jackson can perform better from a wide position rather than down the centre of his attack.

During the summer transfer window, Chelsea paid Villarreal in the region of £32m to secure a deal for the Senegal international, who quickly became recognised as the club's first-choice central forward.

Although Jackson has contributed nine goals and two assists in all competitions, the displays of the 22-year-old have divided opinion among the club's fanbase.

With Armando Broja having been loaned to Fulham, the expectation was that Jackson would resume in a central area against Aston Villa in Wednesday's FA Cup fourth-round replay.

Instead, he lined up on the left flank, consistently posing a threat from that area of the pitch and getting on the scoresheet with a coolly-taken header.

Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson celebrates scoring their second goal on November 6, 2023 © Reuters

When quizzed on the performance of Jackson at a press conference on Friday, Pochettino hinted that he may look to use the versatile forward out wide on a regular basis.

The Argentine said: "Starting point was the left but football is dynamic and he has to move. I think he is a player that can play in this place.

"He always plays better when his face is towards the goal, rather than back to the goal. He is more comfortable, the pace, the speed, the capacity to arrive from the second line, he showed in the goal that he scored and how he arrive from the second line.

"So happy because the commitment is amazing, also. After arriving from the Africa Cup of Nations, I think it is important for him to recover and feel the net. I was very pleased with his performance."

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino reacts on December 16, 2023 © Reuters

For the game against Villa, Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher worked in tandem in the middle, with Noni Madueke being used on the opposite flank to Jackson.

With Raheem Sterling, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku all named as substitutes for the previous game, Pochettino has decisions to make ahead of Monday's Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace.

The same applies with the other end of the pitch with Pochettino revealing that he will wait another two days before deciding whether three defensive-minded players can feature in the squad.

Chelsea head into the next batch of Premier League matches sitting in 11th position in the standings, a consequence of back-to-back defeats to Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.