PHILADELPHIA — Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson apologised to his teammates and the membership’s followers after choosing up his second purple card in 4 matches because the Blues misplaced 3-1 to Flamengo on the Membership World Cup.
Pedro Neto gave Maresca’s aspect a Thirteenth-minute lead in Philadelphia however six second-half minutes modified the sport as Bruno Henrique equalised earlier than Danilo put the Brazilian aspect in entrance.
Jackson, on moments earlier in its place, then lunged in on Ayrton Lucas to earn a straight purple card earlier than Wallace Yan added a late third.
“I need to apologize. To the membership, the workers, my teammates, and all of the followers watching, I allow you to down,” Jackson wrote on Instagram.
“One other purple card … and actually, I am so offended at myself. I work very exhausting daily to assist the group to not put us in this type of scenario. I nonetheless do not totally perceive the way it occurred. However one factor is evident: it wasn’t intentional. Only a soccer second that went the unsuitable approach.
“No excuses. I take full accountability. I am going to replicate, I am going to develop, and I am going to come again stronger for the badge and for everybody who believes in me. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.”
Flamengo are actually high of Group D and in pole place to safe first place whereas Chelsea face Esperance Sportive de Tunis on Wednesday with out Jackson, who will serve a minimal one-game suspension.
He may very well be banned for longer if FIFA select to assessment the incident.
Jackson was additionally despatched off towards Newcastle final month for a equally reckless problem and Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca stated: “It occurred towards Newcastle and it occurred right now. In all probability right now I’m not one hundred pc positive it is a purple card in comparison with the Newcastle one. So it is just a little little bit of a nasty second for Nico in this type of issues. Sadly now he shall be out for some time, the time that we’re right here.
Maresca rejected the suggestion that Jackson’s disciplinary points have been linked to the long-trailed arrival of fellow striker Liam Delap — a £30 million summer time signing from Ipswich City — which gives recent competitors for his place.
“The purple card had nothing to do with Nico’s future,” stated Maresca. “He had the primary one towards Newcastle when Liam was not even right here and one other one right now. Nico is aware of very nicely that in each conditions it was not one thing good for the group.
“Six minutes modified the sport. Within the second half, we began higher in comparison with the primary half. However we conceded two objectives in two minutes after which the purple card. It modified the dynamic. They deserved to win.”
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella warned Jackson he has to handle his behaviour.
“He is very unhappy,” stated Cucurella. “He tried to win the ball, had the dangerous luck that he kicked his leg and that is it. He is a younger participant with loads of high quality however possibly wants to enhance just a little bit in this stuff.
“However he has to study. After the supervisor spoke, he stated sorry, he did not do it on objective. He is an important participant for us, we miss him the subsequent sport however that is soccer.”