Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has expressed remorse after his sending off in the Blues 3-1 defeat to Flamengo in the Club World Cup on Friday.
Jackson, 24, received a straight red card for a rash challenge on Ayrton Lucas, moments after coming on as a substitute, his second in four matches after his sending off against Newcastle United in the English Premier League last month.
“I want to say sorry. To the club, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans watching, I let you down,” Jackson wrote on Instagram.
“Another red card … and honestly, I’m so angry at myself. I work very hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation. I still don’t fully understand how it happened. But one thing is clear: it wasn’t intentional. Just a football moment that went the wrong way.”
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The Blues had made a fast start to the game, taking the lead inside 13 minutes when Pedro Neto raced through before slotting home.
However, things fell apart in six second half minutes as the Brazilians scored twice before Jackson was sent off.
First, substitute Bruno Henrique sneaked in an equalizer at the back post before he turned provider three minutes later for Danilo to complete the turnaround.
Jackson, who had come on for Liam Delap in the 64th minute, was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Flamengo’s Lucas.
This comes six weeks after he was sent off in the 2-0 loss to Newcastle United in the Premier League, amid rising competition with new signing Delap for a starting spot.
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“No excuses. I take full responsibility. I’ll reflect, I’ll grow, and I’ll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry”, the Senegalese added.
Substitute Wallace Yan made it three for the former Copa Libertadores champions, as the Blues suffered a first defeat at the ongoing tournament.
Jackson is expected to miss Chelsea’s final league game of the group stage against Esperance Tunis next week, although he could be banned for longer if the incident is reviewed by FIFA.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
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