John Obi Mikel slams Nicolas Jackson’s reckless challenge, calling it a “stupid mistake” and questioning the player’s readiness for Chelsea’s level of competition.

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has come down hard on Nicolas Jackson after the striker’s reckless challenge earned him a red card in Chelsea’s Club World Cup match.

Mikel, who was a pundit for DAZN during the game, called Jackson’s mistake “unbelievable” and “stupid,” questioning what was going through the player’s head.

Mikel believes Jackson’s actions cost his team dearly, particularly in a game where Chelsea was chasing a comeback. He also suggested that Jackson’s frustration with Liam Delap’s starting position might be contributing to his behavior on the pitch.

According to Mikel, a big player needs to embrace competition, and if Jackson isn’t ready for it, he shouldn’t be at Chelsea.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella defended Jackson, saying he tried to win the ball and was just unlucky. Cucurella added that Jackson is a young player with a lot of quality but needs to improve in certain areas.