Manager Enzo Maresca has pointed to an important difference between struggling Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and rival attackers Mohamed Salah and Erling Braut Haaland.
Jackson has scored nine goals in 19 Premier League games this season, but has failed to hit the back of the net in any of the last four, which Chelsea have failed to win. In comparison, Haaland has scored 16 goals in 20 games, and Salah has scored 18 in 19. However, Maresca believes that the Blues striker is not helped by the fact that he does not take penalties for the Blues. It is Cole Palmer who has that responsibility.
This season, Salah has scored five penalties in the Premier League, while Haaland has only scored one. However, Maresca believes that Jackson’s numbers would be inflated if he were to take the spot-kick at Stamford Bridge, and that it would support him to eventually get back into form.
Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. Maresca’s side are currently fourth in the Premier League table, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have one game less played.
When asked if he has given Jackson any specific advice, Maresca said, “Keep working the way he works. He scored a lot of goals at the beginning of the season, now there are games he doesn’t score. We are completely satisfied, we don’t judge Nicolas because of his goals, but different things Last year he scored 14, 15 goals in the league without penalties – Haaland, Salah, Palmer take penalties.
“If you score 14 or 15 in the Premier League and add penalties, that’s a striker on 20 goals. This year he scored nine or 10, with penalties being 13, 14. He’s doing well. Most of the nines are shooting penalties, so we’re totally happy He’s definitely going to score goals In all the games he hasn’t scored, he’s had big chances, but sometimes you don’t score.”
