Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League suffered a potentially fatal blow as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle took an early lead through a goal from Sandro Tonali in the first half, and things went from bad to worse for the Blues as Nicolas Jackson was sent off for elbowing Sven Botman in the face.
Though the Blues tried to fight back in the second half and had chances, they could not convert before Bruno Guimaraes’ deflected effort in the 90th minute sealed the game.
Jackson’s sending off in the first half will be remembered as the turning point in the game, and it undoubtedly tilted the match in the home side’s favour.
Despite his critics, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has chosen to stick with Jackson up top for Chelsea, but his sending off against Newcastle United might have changed Maresca’s attitude towards the striker once and for all.
According to journalist Simon Johnson, as reported by the Chelsea Chronicle, the Chelsea head coach did not even acknowledge the striker as he headed down the tunnel.
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And in a way, one cannot blame Maresca for his actions, as there is so much at stake right now. It is so tight at the top in the race for Champions League qualification, and Jackson has now handed his side a major blow.
Not only has Jacksoon’s performances this season divided opinion among fans, but they will now be even more desperate for the club to sign an out-and-out prolific striker to lead the line for Chelsea next season.
More importantly, Maresca will have to find a way to cope without Jackson for the rest of the season as the Senegalese international’s season has come to a premature end.
As far as the long term is concerned, it could be a while before we see Jackson take the field in a Premier League game again, as he is set to miss the last two league games of this season and the first one of next season through suspension.
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