Nicolas Jackson admits he is ready to “fight’ as Chelsea prepare for Thursday’s London derby against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Jackson has had a largely successful first season following his summer move from Villareal, scoring 13 goals in all competitions, with ten coming in the Premier League.
The Blues will need Jackson to find his shooting boots against their London rivals with the 22-year-old only having two goals in his last nine matches in all competitions.
Jackson ready to “fight” against Tottenham
In the reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Jackson scored his first Chelsea hat-trick in a 4-1 win, and the Senegal international has been reflecting on the importance of that victory, and how the Blues will have to be at their best to win again.
“It was an amazing night”, Jackson recalled to Chelsea’s official website.
“I was still quite new and I didn’t know until I scored the hat-trick how important it was for the club.
“It was a big, big derby and I was very happy, every time I sleep it’s in my head, the hat-trick, so good memories in their stadium.
Jackson is hoping he and his team-mates can create similar memories on Thursday, but admitted the team will need to fight.
“I hope we create the same memories in our stadium. We are going to fight because London derbies are not easy.
“Last week we lost one and we don’t want that to happen again, so we’re going to fight as a team, fight for the club, and it’s a derby that is very important for the club and the players.
“We are going to fight for it. We will try to do it as a team, one family, and try to make the supporters happy.”
Chelsea head into the game knowing they must win to keep their faint hopes of qualifying for Europe alive, and currently sit ninth, five points behind Newcastle in seventh.
