Mauricio Pochettino insists Nicolas Jackson ‘needs to improve,’ claiming he could have scored six goals in their 4-1 victory over rivals Tottenham.
The £32m summer signing from Villarreal has had a tough start to life since making the move to Stamford Bridge.
Jackson scored a hat-trick on Monday against Tottenham – though some have called it the ‘worst one’ of all time after missing a number of big chances and netting three open goals.
Ahead of Chelsea’s tricky fixture against reigning Premier League champions Man City, insisted he needs get better but backs him to do so.
He told reporters in his pre-match press-conference: ‘It’s easy to say ‘okay he scored three goals’. It’s a process.
Nicolas Jackson has faced criticism despite his hat-trick against Tottenham on Monday
Mauricio Pochettino insists Jackson could have scored six goals in the 4-1 victory over Spurs
Jackson missed a number of huge chances before he was finally able to start scoring
‘He’s still young, needs to improve. Okay scored three goals, should have scored six.
‘The most important thing is to keep him calm and relaxed and he is going to improve with time. Nights like Monday help him not to be too much nervous and approach a game in a different way.’
Until that point, he had only scored three goals in his opening 12 fixtures since joining the Blues.
One player who has made a quick start to life at Stamford Bridge is 21-year-old playmaker Cole Palmer, who joined the club from Sunday’s opponents Man City for £42.5m on a seven-year deal.
Palmer is enjoying a breakout season, netting five goals and four assists across 13 games in all competitions.
Pochettino praised Palmer for how quick he has adapted, but like Jackson, insisted he ‘needs to improve’.
He said: ‘He is a clever guy that adapted really quick. We are building the team and he take advantage to see the situation and to show character and personality.
‘He needs to improve but special for him to play against his former teammates and club.
Pochettino believes Cole Palmer also ‘needs to improve’ despite adjusting to life well at Chelsea
Palmer faces his former side Manchester City who travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday
Pochettino also addressed the fitness status of Christopher Nkunku in his press conference.
He said: ‘We had some conversation and he said to me I want to be ready for after international break, Newcastle.
”I asked him yesterday and he said hmmm, and I said you are liar. It is close and he is really well. We are happy with him.
‘Romeo Lavia is also close. They trained today on the pitch. Hopefully with the team next week.’
