Enzo Maresca expressed that Nicolas Jackson must “learn for the future” after the red card received in Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.
Jackson, Chelsea forward, was sent off in the 35th minute for hitting Sven Botman in the face.
The referee initially showed a yellow card, but changed the decision to red after reviewing VAR.
Given Christopher Nkunku’s absence due to injury, Marc Guiu regaining his fitness, and Jackson’s three-match suspension, Chelsea will face Manchester United and Nottingham Forest without a recognized striker in the next two games.
If the referee thinks it’s a red card, it’s a red card. We need to accept that. Sometimes in this stadium, it’s the noise that helps make decisions, but I don’t think that’s the case here.
Enzo Maresca
Maresca didn’t show much sympathy for Jackson when asked about the incident after the match.
Maresca added: “I haven’t spoken to Nico, it’s not the time. But I will speak to him in the coming days.”His season for us is over. He is our nine, our forward, so we have to find a solution for the next matches. Marc Guiu is our other forward, but he has been injured for three months.
What needs to be avoided is this type of thing, but it happened. Nico is now out for the rest of the season and I hope he can learn for the future.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe admitted his initial reaction was that Jackson deserved a red card.
My instinctive reaction was that it was a sending-off. I could see that Jackson wasn’t looking at the ball, but at the man. That always puts you in a difficult situation and it didn’t look good. But now I’ve seen it on television and my opinion is the same.
Eddie Howe
Newcastle’s victory puts them in third place before their trip to Arsenal next Sunday, but they still need to confirm a top-five finish.
Maresca believes Chelsea must win their last two matches to secure Champions League qualification.My feeling is that we have to win both matches. The energy and unity of the team in the second half give me confidence.
Enzo Maresca
We have two more matches. What needs to be avoided is this type of thing (Jackson’s red card) because we need the whole team.
