In preparation for their Premier League encounter with Liverpool on Wednesday evening, Chelsea found themselves compelled to make a last-minute reversal of plans concerning Nicolas Jackson. Despite Jackson’s recent participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, his national team faced elimination on Monday, succumbing to Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout during the last-16 match.
Initially, Chelsea had strategized for Jackson’s swift transition to Manchester following Senegal’s AFCON exit, allowing him to join his teammates before their journey to Anfield. However, an unexpected directive from Senegal’s head coach, Aliou Cisse, altered these arrangements, requiring the entire team to return to Dakar collectively before rejoining their respective clubs this week.
This directive significantly hindered Jackson’s return, preventing the 22-year-old, who boasts a commendable seven-goal tally in the current Premier League season, from making it in time for Chelsea’s 8:15 pm kickoff on Wednesday night. Despite this setback, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed lingering optimism before the turn of events, holding onto the hope of incorporating Jackson into the matchday squad against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Anfield.
Pochettino elaborated on the unique qualities Jackson brings to the team, emphasizing his aggressiveness, substantial work rate, and pivotal role in high-pressing situations, ball recovery, and goal-scoring prowess. Acknowledging the absence of these attributes due to Jackson’s unavailability, Pochettino expressed a genuine sense of longing for the player. However, the manager found a silver lining in the potential return of Jackson, highlighting a selfish happiness at the prospect of having him back in the squad, albeit tinged with sadness for Senegal’s tournament exit.