Chelsea legend Zola details exactly why Nicolas Jackson has improved so much this season | OneFootball

Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has revealed why he believes striker Nicolas Jackson has improved so much this season.

Jackson arrived at Chelsea from Spanish side Villarreal in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £32m and impressed in his debut campaign.

The Senegal international scored 17 goals in all competitions, 14 of which came in the Premier League and he was rewarded with a two year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2033.

Zola reveals why Jackson has improved so much

Jackson came under heavy criticism last season for the amount of chances he missed and a lot was made of Chelsea’s failure to sign a top striker this summer, despite pursuing Victor Osimhen for most of the window.

However, given Jackson’s start to the campaign it seems that may not have been the worst thing and the 23-year-old has scored six goals and provided three assists in the first ten games of the season, whilst Martin Keown’s claimed he’s becoming one of the most feared strikers in the league.

On early evidence it appears his finishing has improved, whilst his all round play has always been a strong point, with Maresca recently admitting he was very happy with the Senegalese.

Jackson has nine goal contributions in ten games this season. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Jackson has been one of Chelsea’s best performers this season and Zola has explained why he believes the striker has improved so much.

“I think he is getting better, but I think this is a consequence of the team getting better,” he told talkSPORT as quoted by The Chelsea Chronicle.

“Now the ball gets there more regularly, they get there in a pattern, in my opinion, because, you know, the team will zap consistently action after action.

“And I think what he is enjoying right now, you know, is many times he gets good balls into the space where he can give his best. I think the best of Jackson comes when he is attacking the space. And this team builds from the back, and many times you can find him.

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“Last year strangely, his finishing was not as good as everyone was thinking of, but this year it is getting better. Again, this obviously is down to his work, but also a lot about Maresca’s work.”

Jackson will likely have the night off against Noah in the Conference League on Thursday, but will be looking to add to his goal tally against Arsenal on Sunday.