Why Nicolas Jackson shouted at Jadon Sancho as Enzo Maresca surprise response revealed

With his early goal against Aston Villa, Nicolas Jackson made it eight for the season. To go with his three assists from 13 Premier League games, this was also the fourth time he had scored inside the opening ten minutes of a match.

Jackson is now the joint-second top scorer in the Premier League for non-penalty goals. He is behind only Erling Haaland and is level with Mohamed Salah on that list. No striker in the division to have registered an assist has more goals than him either.

In fact, looking deeper into things, he has scored in the same number of league matches as Haaland overall (seven) and has two more than the Manchester City man since the start of September (7-5). Facing competition from a fully fit Christopher Nkunku hasn't stopped Jackson from becoming the main centre-forward at Chelsea.

Really, Jackson is the only true senior No.9 at the club. Marc Guiu is 18 and rarely even selected in matchday squads for the Premier League. Nkunku, whilst mostly used as a striker under Enzo Maresca, is best utilised deeper.

Having been written off by many outside of Chelsea during his first season at the club - one that still saw him score 14 times from open play, which was more than Cole Palmer, and end with five assists - he continues to prove those people wrong. Even with Villa struggling for form and confidence, a matter they displayed throughout the 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, Jackson's goal was important for Chelsea.

He has often been the man to get things going, as shown by his fast starts, and lived up to that here. Timing his front post run perfectly, the 23-year-old used the pace of Marc Cucurella's cross to his advantage and deflected a left-footed shot past Emiliano Martinez, just.

It was evidence of yet another type of Jackson goal, one that could be described as a 'true striker's finish', perhaps. That is not a phrase that his doubters would ever have imagined used about him but it is becoming increasingly accurate.

Whereas 12 months ago he looked like a player who needed the support of a senior striker alongside him to balance the workload - a role Nkunku had been expected to play before injury shifted the squad dynamic - Jackson not only looks ready to carry the burden and responsibility himself but is actively taking steps to make the spot entirely his own. It is a striker's greed for a player still in their relative infancy in this position.

Maybe it was that which led to his frustration at the 70-minute mark. Looking to exchange passes with Jadon Sancho in the left half-space, Jackson ran beyond his teammate's ball inside and left Villa to clear up. From what been a chance to enter the box in an attacking move, Chelsea were on the backfoot and having to press from the front instead - a job done extremely well throughout.

Sancho looked at Jackson, Jackson looked at Sancho, and neither of them were happy with the miscommunication and loss of possession and an opportunity. Even with his side 2-0 up and in control of the game, Jackson let his feelings come out.

He turned with exasperation towards Sancho and started to complain. He shouted his annoyance and Sancho argued back. They were never close to coming to blows but they were also far from happy. This was all despite two impressive individual performances as part of a wider all-round team-inspired victory.

Jackson's afternoon came to an end shortly after. Both he and Sancho were taken off by Maresca in the next minute. It was not retaliation from the manager, merely an incidental action happening prior to a pre-planned change. Jackson continued to brood regardless.

He showed frustration when walking off and had to be calmed down by Sancho, who saw the lighter side. Maresca, too, didn't feel the need to diffuse the situation and instead congratulated them both for their impact in a valuable win. What it shows, then, is Jackson channelling his energy in a different way.

Chelsea's No.15 has always been an expressive player. He has a strong personality and a lively one. At times it can seep out into ill-discipline but he can never be criticised for lacking spirit. Jackson is his own person, still, and made that clear earlier this season.

"Do not call me the next [Didier] Drogba," he is recorded as saying in a video when signing autographs on the way out of training. "I am the next Nicolas Jackson and the last one. The first and the last." This is a man not scared of the comparisons - after all, he actually has a better record at this stage of his career than the Chelsea legend - but who is forceful in his convictions.

Maybe this is what is being seen in Jackson. Mabe this is what he show of emotion is demonstrating. Jackson is now a beacon of high standards for Chelsea. Where he has always been fierce and determined, excelling under the radar largely, he is now showing regular elite skills and being rewarded for it.

The competition for places in attack is very much on and Nkunku, in particular, is doing plenty to try and force his way into the side. Jackson is more than up for the challenge of holding someone with a much bigger body of work as an outstanding forward in Europe off, and this latest show of growth in a different way is certainly no bad thing.

Maresca has asked for more leaders and emergent senior players to push themselves to the front. That is what Jackson is doing with his goals, general output, and entire sporting contribution. Adding public displays and demands with his teammates is no problem, especially not when results continue to put Chelsea near the top.

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