Nicolas Jackson’s humorous reply to Chelsea’s title hopes
After Chelsea’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge, Nicolas Jackson offered a light-hearted response when asked about the club’s chances of winning the Premier League this season.
The win, which saw Marc Cucurella score in the first half and Jackson netting a goal in the 80th minute, took Chelsea within two points of league leaders Liverpool. Despite a late scare from Bryan Mbeumo, who scored for Brentford, Chelsea held on to secure all three points.
However, the victory was slightly overshadowed by a late red card for Cucurella, who was sent off for “aggressive behaviour,” according to a Premier League statement.
A Potential Title Challenge?
In his post-match interview, Jackson was asked about Chelsea’s title ambitions, but the Senegalese forward gave a humorous reply. When told that Chelsea were just two points behind Liverpool, Jackson seemed surprised. He told Sky Sports, “Really? I didn’t know that they are two points ahead. I’m just trying to win every game and focus on the next one. I don’t look at the table.”
With a cheeky smile, he added, “I don’t even know what a ‘title race’ is, to be honest!” He quickly clarified, “No, I know, but I just don’t look at the table. We focus game by game and try to win as much as possible.”
Maresca’s Focus on Game-by-Game Approach
Jackson’s playful response is likely to be welcomed by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who has been keen to downplay any talk of a title challenge in his first season in charge. Maresca has consistently urged his players to focus on steady improvement rather than getting distracted by title talk.
Following the win, Chelsea are in a position where they could briefly top the table before Liverpool face Tottenham in their next match. Chelsea will also face Everton in an early Sunday kick-off, giving them a chance to momentarily leapfrog Liverpool.
