Maresca says there is 'no problem' with Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea prepare to face on-loan striker
Chelsea manager says Jackson remains a professional and could give Bayern tactical insight after completing loan move on transfer deadline day
Enzo Maresca said he has "no problem" with Nicolas Jackson and acknowledged the on-loan striker could offer Bayern Munich some insight into Chelsea's preparations ahead of the clubs' Champions League meeting on Wednesday night.
Jackson completed a loan move to Bayern earlier this month for a reported £14.2 million, with an obligation to make the transfer permanent for an additional £56.2 million if appearance conditions are met. The 24-year-old Senegal international was Chelsea's main centre-forward last season but saw his playing time reduced after the club signed Liam Delap and João Pedro this summer.
The transfer almost collapsed after Delap suffered a hamstring injury, prompting a period of uncertainty while Jackson was in Munich, but the clubs and player ultimately agreed the loan. Jackson will now face his parent club for the first time since the move when Bayern host Chelsea at the Allianz Arena.
Asked about his relationship with Jackson at a pre-match press conference, Maresca said: "I didn't have any kind of problem with Nicolas and I don't have any problem with Nicolas. He is a good guy, good professional, works well with us and that's it." He added that he had messaged Jackson after the latter left, thanking him for his contribution to last season and wishing him well, and that Jackson had replied.
Maresca accepted that Jackson's recent season at Chelsea could give Bayern manager Vincent Kompany a small advantage. "It can probably can be a small advantage [to Kompany] because he can ask Nicolas the way we work, the way we try to prepare a game," Maresca said. "At the end, Nicolas was with us for one entire season so he knows exactly the way we approach games. But at the end, we see."
The situation highlights differences in loan regulations across competitions. The Premier League prevents domestic loans from playing against their parent club in the same competition; Maresca noted he had played and managed in countries where on-loan players are permitted to face their parent clubs, saying: "This rule, when you are on loan, you can play, so for me it is okay."
Chelsea boss Maresca emphasised the collective nature of last season's success, including Jackson's contribution, while seeking to downplay any disruption caused by the forward's move. Chelsea strengthened their attacking options in the close season, bringing in Delap and João Pedro, moves that reduced Jackson's place in the pecking order and contributed to his decision to seek a transfer.
The Champions League fixture will test how both clubs adapt to recent changes. For Bayern, Jackson's knowledge of Chelsea's methods could be useful to Kompany as he prepares his side, while Chelsea must manage the absence of a player who was a key figure in the previous campaign. Maresca's comments framed the episode as settled and professional, with both clubs having reached an agreement that allowed the loan to be completed and the player to move on.