Legendary Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien, has shared his thoughts on former Nigerian footballer Mikel Obi’s criticisms of Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.

Essien believes it is unnecessary for a former footballer to criticize a young player who is striving to establish himself in the English Premier League.

He noted that Jackson was particularly hurt by Obi’s comments because they came from an ex-player from the same continent, which tarnished his public image.

In an interview with JoyNews, Essien advised Jackson to ignore the criticisms and focus on improving his performance to prove his critics wrong, as criticism is part of the game.

“For me, I would just ignore it. Everyone has their own opinion, but it’s nothing personal. Sometimes, when the criticism comes from an ex-player, it hurts the players even more, so they react.

"But at the end of the day, it’s nothing personal. They just have to take it easy, concentrate on their football, and enjoy the moment because football goes quickly. You just have to enjoy it,” he said.

This comes after Mikel Obi criticized Jackson for his inability to convert chances during the 2023/2024 Premier League season.

Jackson, uncomfortable with the situation, responded by telling Obi to stop commenting on his performances.

Meanwhile, Jackson has been in excellent form for Chelsea, scoring four goals and making two assists in five Premier League appearances in the 2024/2025 season.



SB/EK