Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was full of praise for striker Nicolas Jackson after the Senegalese striker opened his account for his new side against Luton town on Friday night. The 22-year-old was on the end of Raheem Sterling’s low cross into the box to help Chelsea cap a comfortable first win of the 2023/24 season.
Pochettino praised the summer signing, claiming that he can develop to become one of the greatest Premier League strikers.
“We knew Nicolas Jackson’s quality when we signed him, we saw that before. It is not that we ask him to run and press the ball, he is quality in the way he recovers the ball, but he also can finish.”
“It is only a matter of time, once he settles into the Premier League, he will show it more. Nicolas Jackson has top quality. I have no doubt that he can become one of the greatest strikers in the Premier League.”
Sterling’s Impact
Raheem Sterling was brilliant against Luton town. The former City star scored a brilliant solo effort in the first half to settle some nerves around Stamford Bridge before a well worked second goal in the second half.
Pochettino also revealed how he helped Sterling get back in form.
“Our first conversation with all the players, and Raheem, I love to ask the position they love to play, how they feel, how they see themselves in front of the mirror.
It is not the position, it is the animation and how the team is going to link in between.
“To find the best position for the dynamic of the game, we are playing in an offensive situation to try to provide the best platform and position and place and link to the player that can appear their best quality.
“That is why the process is important, trying to work to create all these links and the way that we want to play and animation and to know each other we need time. “When you are in a team in the process that we are, it is a matter of time.”
The Blues dominated the game, but were not decisive enough in the first half. After Sterling’s goal, they allowed Luton back into the game, and lacked any real attacking threat till the end of the half.
Many will still feel this wasn’t the best Chelsea performance, but they have picked up the all important 3 points and have put an end to winless run at home dating back to March.
