Vesper 30,219 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Nicolas Jackson ‘in debt’ to Chelsea team-mates, can make amends in Conference League final – Enzo Maresca https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6385860/2025/05/27/jackson-Chelsea-conference-league-final/ Follow live coverage of today’s Conference League final between Betis and Chelsea Enzo Maresca believes Nicolas Jackson is in the right frame of mind to make amends for Chelsea in the Conference League final after his red card against Newcastle United. Jackson is available for selection again having missed the last two Premier League games of the campaign through suspension. The Senegalese striker was sent off for violent conduct in the first half of Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park when he hit Sven Botman in the face. Chelsea were able to qualify for the Champions League via a fourth-place finish without the 23-year-old, but Maresca believes the cause of Jackson’s absence means he owes something to his team-mates against Real Betis. When asked by The Athletic if Jackson is ready to channel his desire to make up for it in the right way, Maresca said: “I hope so because I think Nico is in debt with his team-mates and the reason why is because in that moment, Newcastle away was for us the most important game. “He left his team-mates with ten players for one hour so for sure he’s in debt. For sure he’s a good guy. For sure he recognised the mistake. He apologised to his team-mates. That is very important. And I’m sure that tomorrow he’s going to do a very good game for us.” What You Should Read Next Nicolas Jackson has maturity to be Chelsea’s No 9, insists Enzo Maresca The 23-year-old was sent off against Newcastle and will miss Chelsea's final two games, leaving Maresca without a recognised striker. Captain Reece James insists all has been forgiven and is backing Jackson to put the incident behind him in Wroclaw Stadium. He added: “He obviously made a mistake. He’s been so key for us this season. Since he arrived, he played a huge part in the way we won. What he’s done, getting sent off, is gone now. We’ve accepted the mistake, put it behind us and all eyes focus on tomorrow.” Maresca felt Chelsea’s Champions League qualification after winning 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday allowed the club to say ‘F-off’ to their critics. But he has told the squad to play with the same intensity to ensure the season ends on a similar high. He said: “Like I said many times, to build a winner mentality there is only one way. You cannot build a winner mentality if you don’t win games. “The message in the last 48 hours has been, we did something important (on Sunday). But if we want to confirm that we are becoming an important club, we need to show the desire to win the title and to win the game. “Tomorrow is a different game. It’s a final. And it’s a game that we want to win at any cost. We need to show again the desire to win the title and to win the game.” “] Maresca complained last week that Real Betis have had 48 hours extra rest than his players because they got to play their final La Liga match on Friday night. While Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini has some sympathy for his counterpart who he enjoys a close bond with, he says Chelsea should not see it as a factor in deciding the game. Pellegrini said: “Of course, they had a difficult game on Sunday. They must qualify for the Champions League and they did it, so I am very happy for him. “But it will not be an excuse because you need to play three days after that game. During the whole season, you always have to play, especially when you play European games, Thursday- Sunday, Wednesday or Saturday. “So I am absolutely sure that Chelsea will be recuperated and will be there. Tomorrow will be a difficult team with one or two days less of rest, but it will be exactly the same difficult team.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizy 18,946 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Well, that’s certainly a surprising team selection at the back. Especially surprised not to see Reece starting. Dropping your captain for a final is weird. Especially when he’s been playing well lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,141 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 No James, Colwill and Badshit coming in.....WOW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vytis33 1,276 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Seems like I’m not the only one confused…Levi and Reece on the bench?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizy 18,946 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Maresca will definitely have some questions to answer if we lose this with our best defenders sat on the bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,141 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 A final and no Colwill and James is fucking mental, he needs to hope this goes our way as those selections are big choices... These are no mugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorkshireBlue 3,279 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 3 minutes ago, Special Juan said: A final and no Colwill and James is fucking mental, he needs to hope this goes our way as those selections are big choices... These are no mugs Clearly the one thing he learns from pep is to overthink a final Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laylabelle 9,536 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Ohhhh wtf. There's no more games after this play the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulham Broadway 17,332 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Vialli, Ancelotti, Di Matteo, Conte, Sari, every Italian manager has won us a trophy. Now its Marescas time..... Fernando and NikkiCFC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,141 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Time to stand up and be counted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAM09 7,062 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Jackson walls back into the starting XI like nothing happened, and I needn't say much about the backline. Maresca really thinks it's smart to rotate or have "loyalty" to those who play thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulham Broadway 17,332 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Jackson has debt to atone us, and his team mates tonight nyikolajevics 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,141 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Just now, Fulham Broadway said: Jackson has debt to atone us, and his team mates tonight Needs to grow some knackers this bloke tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyikolajevics 2,702 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Very interesting.. Hope Maresca will explain later wheter we win or not. Colwill played total 39 games this season(35 PL, 2 FA, 2 Conf) and not solid national team member, he shouldn't be drained off.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAM09 7,062 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Just now, nyikolajevics said: Very interesting.. Hope Maresca will explain later wheter we win or not. Colwill played total 39 games this season(35 PL, 2 FA, 2 Conf) and not solid national team member, he shouldn't be drained off.. Loyalty. It's quite clear by a number of the selection choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Juan 28,141 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 TNT are dying for Betis to win this, the coverage so far has been nothing short of embarrassing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whats happening 1,621 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 14 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said: Jackson has debt to atone us, and his team mates tonight wouldnt count on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizy 18,946 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 7 minutes ago, Special Juan said: TNT are dying for Betis to win this, the coverage so far has been nothing short of embarrassing Feels like everyone and their mother wants them to win. Combo of Chelsea hatred and everyone loving the underdog who have never won anything before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulham Broadway 17,332 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 7 minutes ago, whats happening said: wouldnt count on it Whether he does or not is up to him -fact is he owes us, the team and CFC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesper 30,219 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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