Chelsea star warned to improve his performance or risk losing his spot in Maresca’s squad by Premier League legend William Gallas: ‘He needs to do better. He needs to be ruthless because there are a lot of good strikers that Chelsea can replace him with. Also Nkunku would easily replace him. He needs to target at least 20 goals this season at least’
Former French defender William Gallas has advised Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson to sharpen his finishing skills or risk losing his spot to fellow forward Christopher Nkunku. Gallas expressed concern over Jackson’s inconsistency in front of goal, warning that continued wastefulness could see Nkunku take his place in the starting lineup.
Jackson, who joined Chelsea from Villarreal, made an instant impact with 17 goals and six assists in his debut season, tallying 14 goals and five assists in the Premier League alone. This season, Jackson has continued to show promise, scoring four goals and providing three assists in seven Premier League appearances. However, Gallas believes Jackson needs to step up and aim for a higher goal tally if he wants to remain Chelsea’s first-choice striker.
Gallas emphasized that Jackson should target at least 20 goals this season to cement his place in the team. He pointed out Jackson’s tendency to miss key chances, noting that since last season, the forward has squandered 29 “big chances” in the Premier League, a number only surpassed by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who missed 37. The difference is that Haaland has managed to convert far more of his opportunities, netting 19 more goals in the same period. Gallas cautioned that if Jackson’s form declines, Nkunku—who has recovered from injuries and already scored seven goals this season—could easily take over the striker role.
The former Chelsea captain explained that manager Enzo Maresca has created a competitive environment between Jackson and Nkunku, forcing both players to perform at their peak to secure a place in the lineup. Gallas noted, “Maresca knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s making sure that Jackson and Nkunku push each other, which means they must keep delivering if they want to start.”
Gallas went on to say that while Jackson has improved since joining the club, his conversion rate remains an issue. “Jackson is getting better, but there’s still room for improvement. If he’s getting three or four clear chances in a game, he should be scoring at least two of them. Right now, he needs five chances just to score once, and that’s not good enough at this level,” Gallas remarked.
In conclusion, Gallas urged Jackson to elevate his game, reminding him that competition from Nkunku will only intensify. If Jackson wants to stay at the forefront of Chelsea’s attack, he must improve his finishing and take advantage of the chances he gets. Gallas’ message was clear: only consistent performance will guarantee Jackson a starting spot in the lineup.
