Nicolas Jackson: I Respect Maresca, But It Was Time for a Change

Nicolas Jackson has insisted he has no regrets as he addressed Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca following his loan move to Bayern Munich.

Nicolas Jackson insists he harbours no ill will towards Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca after departing Stamford Bridge on the transfer window to join Bayern Munich on a loan deal with an option to buy.

Nicolas Jackson signed with Chelsea in the summer of 2023, and his move was one of the most talked-about, bringing a young, promising striker from La Liga to the Premier League for a reported fee of around $40 million.

The move was seen as a key part of Chelsea’s major squad overhaul under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, who aimed to rebuild a team that had struggled to find its footing.

The transfer itself was part of a broader strategy by Chelsea to invest in young talent with high potential. The club, which had been criticised for its disjointed squad and reliance on older players, looked to build a new core of young, dynamic footballers.

At the time, Jackson, at just 22, fit the profile perfectly. He signed an unusually long eight-year contract, a common practice for Chelsea.

Upon joining the team, Nicolas Jackson quickly integrated himself into Mauricio Pochettino’s system. He had a solid start to his Chelsea career, scoring goals in preseason and showing flashes of his potential.

However, adapting to the physicality and intensity of the Premier League has proven to be a challenge, as it is for many players coming from other leagues. He has shown glimpses of brilliance but also faced periods of inconsistency.

The transfer, which took place on deadline day, was filled with drama and last-minute twists. The deal, as reported, is a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for a reported fee of around £56 million (€64.5 million).

Just days after the transfer was confirmed, Bayern Munich’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, made a shocking public statement. He claimed that the obligation-to-buy clause would ‘definitely not’ be triggered because it requires Jackson to start 40 games, a feat Hoeness believes is impossible for the striker to achieve this season.

The transfer’s dramatic conclusion also involved Chelsea. The club initially pulled the plug on the loan deal after a hamstring injury to their new signing Liam Delap, which caused concerns about squad depth. This decision reportedly left Jackson ‘furious.’

“Football is full of cycles. Sometimes things don’t work out as they should, and that’s part of the game. I respect coach Maresca; I learned a lot from him. He has his own ideas and style. I just needed something different at this stage of my career. I have no regrets, only gratitude for my time at Chelsea,” Nicolas Jackson told Tuttosport amid the contoversy.

Regarding Chelsea’s initial attempts to block the transfer, Nicolas Jackson stated he was confident the deal would go through.

“Honestly, my advisors and I were very confident. I never doubted that I would sign with Bayern, so I took the situation philosophically. I am in good health, as are my loved ones, and I am fortunate to be a professional footballer. Nothing else matters,” the Nigerian added.

For Nicolas Jackson, the move to Bayern offers a fresh start and a chance to prove his critics wrong, but the comments from the club’s leadership have already placed a cloud of doubt over his future in Munich.