Enzo Maresca has spoken publicly about Nicolas Jackson with the two set to cross paths for the first time since the latter left Chelsea earlier this month on transfer deadline day.
In a protracted deal, Jackson got his wish and completed a loan move to Bayern Munich for a £14.2million fee. There is also an obligation for that switch to be made into a permanent one for an extra £56.2m but only if he hits a high number of appearances.
The 24-year-old was Chelsea’s main centre-forward last season but sought an exit after the Blues signed Liam Delap and Joao Pedro this summer, pushing him down the pecking order.
The Senegal international’s move though nearly collapsed when Delap suffered a hamstring injury, causing a stand-off between Jackson, who was in Munich, and his parent club. However, all parties managed to come to an agreement allowing the loan to be completed.
And in a twist of fate, Jackson’s first Champions League encounter with his new club will see him face Chelsea at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
Ahead of that match, Chelsea manager Maresca was asked about his relationship with the wantaway Jackson – with the Italian insisting there was no issue.
Enzo Maresca (left) has spoken about Nicolas Jackson ahead of their Champions League game
Jackson will face parent club Chelsea on Wednesday after completing a loan to Bayern Munich
‘I didn’t have any kind of problem with Nicolas and I don’t have any problem with Nicolas,’ he said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
‘Again, he is a good guy, good professional, works well with us and that’s it.
Elaborating further, he added: ‘I said the other day that I am grateful to Nicolas because if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is because all the players, including Nicolas who was with us.
I texted him after he left the club, telling him thanks for last season, wishing him all the best. He texted back.
‘Nicolas is a good guy, he was with us, he was working well.’
Despite the well-wishes, Maresca is aware that Jackson may be able to give Bayern boss Vincent Kompany some insight into how the Premier League side will approach the match tactically.
‘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.
‘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.’
Jackson was Maresca’s main centre-forward last season but that changed this summer
Liam Delap (left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this summer, limiting Jackson’s minutes
And while that may be a small hindrance, Maresca is not perturbed by the possibility of on-loan Jackson playing against his parent side, something not allowed in the Premier League, and hurting their Champions League prospects.
‘In terms of the rule, for me it is normal. I am from Italy, I played many years in Spain.
‘This rule, when you are on loan, you can play, so for me it is okay.’
