Chelsea's New Striker: Pochettino's Unwavering Confidence Pays Off Despite Nicolas Jackson's Misses

After his costly miss in Chelsea's loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend, Nicolas Jackson found solace by hiding his face in his hands. However, there is nowhere to hide for the striker as he faces intense scrutiny. Opta reveals that this miss marks his sixth significant opportunity missed in just four games since his move from Villarreal for £32m, placing him two steps ahead of any other player in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea fans will also remember when Reece James's cross narrowly missed the target at the near-post in the match against Liverpool. Additionally, Ben Chilwell's close-range header was sent over the bar in the game against West Ham.

The evidence of Jackson's wastefulness is evident in the underlying statistics as well. Despite having an expected goal count of 3.03, he has only managed to score once, resulting in the largest negative differential in the league.

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Little wonder, then, that his credentials are being questioned.

Since Todd Boehly's takeover last year, Chelsea has spent exorbitant amounts in the transfer market. However, it is widely believed that they still do not have a striker who can effectively provide the decisive touch.

Undoubtedly, the expectations on Jackson are high, considering he is a newcomer to the Premier League and is now tasked with leading the attack on his own, owing to the injuries of Christopher Nkunku and Armando Broja.

Mauricio Pochettino has unwavering faith in the 22-year-old.

"He will undoubtedly prove himself further once he adapts to the Premier League," Pochettino affirmed, following Jackson's debut goal against Luton last month. "There is no question in my mind that he has the potential to become one of the top strikers in the Premier League."

After the Forest game, the message remained consistent.

"He tends to rush his decisions at times, but what we're trying to express is that he needs to find composure and be more at ease. Once he does, we have no doubt that he will start scoring goals. As we move forward, our discussions about him will certainly adopt a different tone, as he is bound to convert opportunities like these."

Despite Jackson's lack of success in scoring, Chelsea's head coach can take solace in the fact that he consistently positions himself well on the field. Only three players have attempted more shots than him this season. If penalty shots are excluded, Erling Haaland is the only player with a higher expected goals ranking.

Currently, Jackson is not converting enough of his opportunities into goals, but he is receiving them at an impressive frequency. With an average of 3.8 shots per 90 minutes, he is on pace to surpass 100 shots this season.

Only 11 players have surpassed this total for shots in the last three Premier League seasons, with a minimum of 17 goals scored. This emphasizes the importance of shot volume for strikers. It is promising that Jackson continues to produce a high number of shots despite adapting to a new country, a newly-configured Chelsea team, and a different style of football.

Notably, he possesses a capacity for ruthlessness, which was evident during his time at Villarreal in the previous season. Despite playing for only 1,603 minutes in La Liga, he managed to score an impressive 12 goals. What further sets him apart is that he exceeded the expected goals by the second-largest margin in the league.

His remarkable displays on the field led to high praise from Villarreal manager Quique Setien, who acknowledged his "exceptional qualities" and highlighted his ability to make intelligent choices when facing the goal.

Given the context, Pochettino's recent hasty decisions, mentioned after the Forest game, can be attributed to understandable nervousness in an unfamiliar environment.

Jackson's proficiency as a goal scorer likely falls somewhere in between his performance for Villarreal last season and his current output for Chelsea. However, considering his young age of 22 and limited experience of only 53 high-level matches, it is evident that there is ample room for improvement.

Jackson, on the other hand, fulfills the need for speed and mobility up front, in line with Pochettino's high-intensity playing style. While Romelu Lukaku fell short in this aspect, leading to the club's decision to let him go, Jackson brings exactly what is required.

He is at the forefront of Premier League tracking data, surpassing all other players in sprinting, which clearly emphasizes his exceptional work-rate. Delving into the statistics reveals the remarkable extent of his mobility.

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The statistics highlight Nicolas Jackson's off-the-ball movement

Jackson leads the Premier League in off-the-ball runs this season. Additionally, he tops the charts in attacking runs, which involve accelerating towards the goal with momentum, such as to meet a cross. However, the most remarkable feat is that Jackson is also the top performer in runs challenging the opposition's defense. This statistic highlights his talent for pressuring and stretching defenses. Even in a team that is still developing its cohesion, Jackson's runs are consistently being utilized by his teammates, showcasing their effectiveness.

Jackson's runs serve a dual purpose beyond positioning for shots. They also effectively generate space for Chelsea's forwards, enhancing their attack. One player in particular reaping the rewards is Raheem Sterling, whose impressive performance at the beginning of the season can be largely attributed to his partnership with Jackson.

Sterling has embraced increased autonomy on the right flank, benefiting from Jackson's troublesome movements that disrupt the center. Despite being labeled as a winger, the dynamic player has frequently acted as Chelsea's foremost attacker, enjoying enhanced control over the ball.

Sterling's transformation is evident in the statistics. Not only is he shooting and scoring more frequently than last season, but he is also getting twice as many touches in the opposition box.

This increase in attacking opportunities can be attributed to Jackson's selfless movement, which allows Sterling to push further forward. Additionally, Sterling's improved ability to isolate defenders has resulted in a higher number of one-on-one situations. Last season, he averaged only 4.3 one-on-ones per 90 minutes, but this term, that number has risen to 7.3 per 90 minutes.

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Since Nicolas Jackson joined, Raheem Sterling's performance has improved, enabling him to capitalize on his strengths once again. This further solidifies the belief that despite his occasional misses, it is worthwhile to continue supporting this skilled and promising 22-year-old.

Chelsea's critics have valid reason to question the recruitment strategy which ultimately resulted in entrusting their striking responsibilities to a player with relatively limited experience at the beginning of the season. However, it is crucial to perceive Nicolas Jackson not as a hindrance, but rather as a valuable asset towards resolving the issue.

There is no reason to anticipate Pochettino losing confidence in the near future.

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