Enzo Maresca has stated that he will not speak to Nicolas Jackson until Monday after the striker’s red card in Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday left the club’s hopes of Champions League qualification hanging by a thread. Jackson was sent off after elbowing Sven Botman in the head during the first half, with the initial yellow card upgraded to red following a VAR review.
Maresca, reflecting on the incident, emphasized that Jackson needed to learn from the mistake. “There’s no doubt, 100%, Nico has to learn,” the Chelsea manager said. “He will be suspended for the rest of the season now and he has to learn for the future.” Maresca also confirmed that Jackson would miss the remaining two matches of the season and acknowledged the need for a different solution up front for the final stretch. Chelsea will now be forced to adjust their attack with their main striker sidelined, just as they are in a critical battle for European football.
The incident occurred with Chelsea already trailing 1-0 to Newcastle, after Sandro Tonali’s early goal. While the red card left Chelsea with a numerical disadvantage for the remainder of the match, Maresca reflected on the team’s resilience in the second half. Despite being a man down, Chelsea created several chances, and the manager felt that his side had played better than expected given the circumstances. “For sure the red card affected the game,” Maresca said. “Against this team, in this stadium, it’s already complicated, and if you give them one extra player it’s difficult. But overall, especially in the second half, we created big chances even with 10 players when it’s not easy.”
Newcastle’s second goal came late, with Bruno Guimarães adding another to secure the victory for Eddie Howe’s side. Howe, who had seen his team benefit from Chelsea’s man disadvantage, praised his players for their defensive efforts, even as Chelsea pushed for a comeback. “With nothing to lose in the second half, Chelsea played very well,” Howe said. “You could see the quality and level of their players, and we lost control of the game. But we still managed to defend well enough to keep them out.”
Looking ahead, Howe is cautiously optimistic about securing a top-five finish and a second Champions League qualification in three years. However, he acknowledged that the race remains tight and emphasized the need for his side to maintain focus. “It’s a massive win for us,” he added. “It’s put us in a stronger position, but it’s still very tight, and we have to keep our focus.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea now face a home match against Manchester United before concluding the season with an away trip to Nottingham Forest. Maresca’s team will need to perform at their best to keep their hopes of European qualification alive. Newcastle, on the other hand, have a crucial upcoming clash with Arsenal, followed by a home fixture against Everton in their final match of the campaign.
Howe also reflected on the absences of key players such as Joelinton, Kieran Trippier, and Joe Willock, admitting that the team was feeling the strain of their injuries. “We’re slightly stretched now,” Howe said, adding that the summer transfer window would be crucial for bolstering the squad.
The red card for Jackson was widely viewed as the correct decision by both managers. Howe agreed with the referee’s decision, noting that Jackson had been looking at Botman and not the ball when making contact with his elbow. “I think that always puts you in a vulnerable position, especially if you make contact with your elbow like he did,” Howe explained. “I’ve just seen it again and my opinion hasn’t changed, I do think it’s a red card.”
