"Chelsea Could Challenge for Titles and European cups but not with him" – Gary Neville says Chelsea player is holding club back from winning Premier League Title
Neville suggests Chelsea needs a top-class striker to compete at the highest level, highlighting Nicolas Jackson’s role and the need for stronger competition upfront.
Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville isn’t known to be one who praises Chelsea. Surprisingly, Neville did, however, have some good things to say about the Blues following their 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. Chelsea showed a lot of potential and could have easily won at least a point, even though they didn’t receive the outcome they were hoping for.
Despite their narrow loss, Chelsea’s effort was great overall. There was some controversy around the game because Chelsea had a strong penalty appeal that VAR didn’t even consider. Chelsea maintained 58% possession and dominated the game regardless of these setbacks. They proved their ability to compete with the big clubs, such as Liverpool.
Liverpool, on the other hand, won all three points because they were well-prepared and professional. Even though Chelsea still has to work on a few things, their performance showed that they are moving in the right direction.
Speaking following the game, Gary Neville shared his opinion that Chelsea may eventually contend with teams like Liverpool for the Premier League title. Neville believes Chelsea is still missing an important component, though: a top-tier striker. Even though Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea’s current striker, has been playing well lately, Neville thinks that competition at the striker position is necessary for Chelsea’s long-term success.
Blue Footy shared Neville’s remarks on the Sky Sports Podcast on social media X, which used to be called Twitter. “I don’t want to be critical of Nicolas Jackson because I believe he can be a valuable member of Chelsea,” he stated. Jackson could play as Chelsea’s second striker, though, and they would be a lot closer to competing for the title in a few years if they had a top striker before him.
🎙️Gary Neville: "I think we know their deficiencies. I don’t want to call out Nicolas Jackson, because I think he can be part of a very successful squad that can do well for Chelsea.
I just think if he had a world-class striker in front of him – and he was the second striker –… pic.twitter.com/QSsdQLyDnB
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) October 20, 2024
Numerous Chelsea fans and football commentators have agreed. Undoubtedly, Jackson has shown potential and improved his performances since last season. However, Chelsea needs a quality striker to lead the line if they hope to contend for the Premier League and other major titles.
Another gifted player Chelsea signed in the summer is Christopher Nkunku. Neville, however, noted that Nkunku is not the answer to Chelsea’s striker problem for a center striker because he is more of a playmaker and a number 10 than a traditional number 9.
Neville’s statements support the long-held belief held by many that, despite Jackson’s potential, he lacks the experience and quality of a top striker. Chelsea will need to improve in this area if they want to go from being a squad with potential to one that can actually compete for trophies.
