While Chelsea confidently secured their spot in the first-ever Club World Cup final, it wasn’t all smooth sailing on the pitch—especially when emotions ran high between teammates.
One heated moment between Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson stole some of the spotlight during an otherwise comfortable 2-0 win over Fluminense on Tuesday night.
Palmer Loses His Cool After Jackson Misses Key Pass
With Chelsea leading comfortably and the clock winding down, the Blues had a golden chance to seal the deal in the 80th minute.
Substitute Nicolas Jackson broke into the box and had the perfect opportunity to square the ball for Cole Palmer, who was unmarked and ready for a simple tap-in.
But instead of making the unselfish play, Jackson went for glory himself—only to misfire and send his shot into the side netting.
Palmer couldn’t hide his frustration. He threw his hands up, kicked the post in anger, and appeared to shout at his teammate, who could only respond with an apologetic gesture and a lowered head as he walked back into position.
New Signings Are Turning Up the Heat
Jackson’s decision not to pass—and the fallout from it—couldn’t have come at a worse time for him.
Chelsea’s front line is now more competitive than ever following the arrival of two new signings: Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Pedro, who joined from Brighton for a hefty £60 million, wasted no time making an impression.
Facing his former club Fluminense, he chose not to celebrate out of respect, but his two goals—a sublime curling finish in the 18th minute and a powerful strike early in the second half—spoke volumes.
He’s already showing signs of becoming a key figure for Enzo Maresca.
Delap, another attacking option who arrived from Ipswich for £30 million, adds further pressure to Jackson’s place in the starting XI.
Jackson’s Starting Spot Under Threat
Last season, Jackson had a decent goal return—10 in the Premier League and 13 in all competitions. Maresca often praised his work rate and adaptability.
But his lack of composure in big moments has left some Chelsea fans growing impatient.
He was sent off late last season against Newcastle, then again during the group stage of the Club World Cup in a clash with Flamengo.
Moments like the one against Fluminense only fuel criticism that he lacks discipline and decision-making under pressure.
Transfer Rumors Swirl as Milan Reportedly Make Enquiry
Now, there’s even talk of a possible move away. Italian reports suggest AC Milan have shown interest in Jackson.
Apparently, his name came up during talks for left-back Archie Brown, who plays for Belgian side Gent but shares the same agent as Jackson.
With that relationship already established, Milan are reportedly keeping close tabs.
Still, Chelsea aren’t expected to let the Senegalese forward go unless a serious offer lands on the table.
The club values Jackson and likely sees potential—but his margin for error is shrinking fast with such fierce competition around him.
What’s Next for Chelsea?
Thanks to their dominant win, Chelsea are now headed to the Club World Cup final on Sunday.
They’ll face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.
As for Jackson, whether he gets another chance to prove himself on such a big stage remains to be seen.
But one thing’s clear—he’ll need to show a lot more composure and team awareness if he wants to keep his place in this rapidly evolving Chelsea squad.