NICOLAS JACKSON faces a rollicking from Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino over his lack of discipline.
The Senegal striker, 22, collected his ninth booking of the season on Monday for leaving the BENCH to run across the pitch and celebrate Blues’ final goal in the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Despite having been subbed 15 minutes earlier, Jackson dashed to join his team-mates who were celebrating an Enzo Fernandez strike in injury time.
Jackson now has as many yellow cards as goals this term — and is one caution away from a two-match ban.
But only one of his nine bookings has been for a foul, with the others for dissent (4), arguing (2), not retreating and now entering the pitch.
Boss Poch warned Jackson and his young stars about their number of bookings back in September after the frontman picked up five in his first six Prem outings and served a suspension.
Read More on Football
At the time, Pochettino said: “Players like Nico who are so young and feeling the Premier League and learning, they need time.
“Players when they are young without experience make mistakes.
“This is why we feel disappointed because we are seeing too many situations like this.
“We need to change as soon as possible. We need to grow up like a team.”
Most read in Football
Nicolas Jackson’s yellow cards
Dates and reasons why Jackson was booked
August 13, 2023 vs Liverpool – Dissent
August 20, 2023 vs West Ham – Argument
September 2, 2023 vs Nottingham Forest – Dissent
September 17, 2023 vs Bournemouth – Dissent
September 24, 2023 vs Aston Villa – Not retreating
November 6, 2023 vs Tottenham – Foul (Tactical Foul)
November 12, 2023 vs Manchester City – Argument
December 24, 2023 vs Wolves – Dissent
February 12, 2024 vs Crystal Palace – Entering Field
But Chelsea have clearly not learned, with Pochettino’s side collecting the most yellow cards (75) in the league this season, more than double Arsenal’s 37.
Jackson’s latest disciplinary issue comes in the wake of the idea of sin-bins being introduced in pro football.
A blue card could lead to a ten-minute spell off the field.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has said it would “destroy” football, while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp slammed the idea, saying, “We should keep it as simple as possible.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk