“He’s been unfairly criticised at times in the media by different people” - Rio Ferdinand offers opinion on Chelsea star

Legendary English defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed that the media have unfairly criticized Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson. The former Manchester United star believes the striker does a lot of good work that goes unnoticed.

In a video posted by TNT Sports, Ferdinand was talking to Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca when he claimed that the media had been harsh on the Senegal striker. He said:

“I think he’s (Jackson) been unfairly criticised at times in the media by different people and different publications."

Talking about the importance of Jackson in his starting XI, Maresca replied that he was doing everything needed to help the team. He said:

"First of all, he's helping us a lot in the way we want to play because he is dropping, he is linking, and he is doing fantastic that. And everyone probably at the beginning, no one expected this from Nico. And he's doing he's doing very well then in terms of numbers - he is scoring goals [and] assisting. Since the start, we want to press - go man to man – it's always aggressive, it's always there. He doing fantastic."

Nicolas Jackson has scored six goals and provided three assists in 11 Premier League matches this season. He has led the Blues attack in every league game so far.

Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson is playing better than last season, claims pundit

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop heaped praise on Nicolas Jackson, stating the Chelsea striker had improved this season. He claimed the Senegal star was a bit disappointing last season, but had now turned things around.

He said on ESPN (via Chelsea.News):

“I didn’t think Nico Jackson covered himself in any kind of glory at all. Contrast that with this season, I think that was the big point for me in in choosing Nico Jackson. Some of his disappointments of last season, and contrast to how he started this season, not just his goals but the way he’s held play up, the way he’s linked play for Chelsea so far this season. I thought it was in total contrast to everything I saw last season.”

Nicolas Jackson scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, with 14 coming in the Premier League. He was given a two-year contract extension by the Blues in the summer, extending his current deal at the club until 2033.