With Brighton becoming the second team to lose to Mauricio Pochettino's revamped Blues squad, Chelsea is currently two from two in preseason games.
In the opening match of the Premier League Summer Series in Philadelphia, Pochettino's team defeated the Seagulls 4-3 in a thrilling seven-goal battle. The Blues were able to win both of their preseason games thanks to goals from Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher, and Nicolas Jackson.
Pochettino employed a total of 20 players, just as he did against Wrexham the previous week, as he continues to test his new recruits ahead of the start of the Premier League season next month. In contrast to the other 19, only one individual stood out, and that was recent addition Jackson.
Invoking the 30 million release clause in his Villarreal contract, Chelsea elected to bring the 22-year-old striker to Stamford Bridge last month. There was a lot of interest in Jackson following a great finish to the previous campaign in which the Senegal international scored nine goals in his final eight La Liga games, but the Blues were the first to move and sign him.
However, the Blues were the first to act and sign Jackson.
Jackson made his Chelsea debut earlier this week in a 5-0 victory over Wrexham in North Carolina. Because of his superb link-up play in the final third during that game, the striker drew many people's attention. He also assisted in Chapel Hill's second goal of the night for Ian Maatsen.
Against Brighton, it was once more the bond he has already established with his new teammates that stood out.
Jackson, who entered the game as a replacement at halftime, contributed right away after Mudryk received a deft assist from him and blasted the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box.
Soon after, the score was 3-1, and Jackson once more had a significant role in the victory. This time, Gallagher scored after Jackson slid the Chelsea midfielder the ball inside the box, making Jackson's job relatively simple.
Jackson's skill greatly thrilled Chelsea supporters on social media; perhaps this was an aspect of his game they were unaware of before the club signed him last month. Many believed he was a conventional, quick No. 9, who preferred to play on the last defender's shoulder and use his speed to get through on goal, but his link-up play in the first two preseason games has been phenomenal.
Later in the game, however, Jackson displayed his traditional center-forward side of the game. Jackson was attentive and made a quick move in behind the defence before emphatically finishing to score Chelsea's fourth and final goal of the evening after Marc Cucurella picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch.
Jackson expressed his satisfaction with his teammates after the game. "I'm already feeling pretty good here, which is why I play in every game. You participate in every game when you get along with everyone.I constantly tell them to give me room so I can run through it. One of my closest pals, Cucurella, had the ball when I went through the open space and scored.
Reddit users who follow Chelsea were ecstatic after watching what Jackson accomplished in Philadelphia. Many of them were attempting to write new songs about the striker to the tune of OutKast's 2000 single Ms. Jackson', while others were grinning ear to ear for the club to have discovered such a talent.
It's difficult for me not to get ahead of myself, but I'm already in love, one fan admitted. Most significantly, he exudes the sense that he could bleed blue. He has it all. One user commented, "Getting to watch this baller play after having to watch Sigh Havertz for three years I can't believe it."
Jackson's performance against Brighton also greatly impressed Jackson's manager, Pochettino.
However, the Argentine did caution that the Senegalese attacker would require more time to become used to his new environment.
Pochettino stated, "I believe Chelsea recognises something significant in quality and potential when they recruit a player like him. "It's true what you say about last season, but he played really well in the end."Although he has great talent, he will require time to adjust to his new team and the Premier League. He values this kind of contest because he wants to experience what it's like to compete in the Premier League. He is young and gifted, therefore we must undoubtedly work with him to grow, change, and improve so that he can contribute to Chelsea now and in the years to come.
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