Nicolas Jackson appeared devastated after being substituted in Chelsea’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
The 23-year-old striker has been in fantastic form this season, scoring eight goals in 14 Premier League matches, but he struggled to make an impact against Spurs.
Jackson was replaced by Christopher Nkunku in the 76th minute, just 14 minutes before the final whistle. Footage soon emerged of Jackson sitting on the bench, his head down and visibly distraught.
The Senegalese forward was seen covering his face with his shirt and putting his hands on his head in frustration.
After the match, as Chelsea celebrated with their fans, manager Enzo Maresca was seen making his way towards Jackson, who was sitting alone.
Maresca placed a comforting arm around his shoulder and spoke to the young striker, offering support in a moment of emotional distress.
Chelsea’s win over Tottenham propelled them to second in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Liverpool.
Despite the tough start to the game, Maresca praised his team’s resilience. “To come into this stadium against this team and concede two goals and still win shows how mentally strong the players are,” Maresca said.
Maresca also praised his team’s tactical adjustments in the second half. “At half-time we changed something tactically, and in the second half, we deserved to win,” he explained.
Despite going two goals down, Chelsea maintained control and fought back, eventually securing a hard-earned victory.