Didier Drogba picks the Chelsea player who surprisingly reminds him of his playing style

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Didier Drogba has been one of the most influential strikers in Chelsea’s history, and he still pays attention to what goes on at Stamford Bridge.

During his nine years with the club, he built a strong connection with the fans, which remains even after his playing days.

In this landscape, he often talks about and supports the current squad.

Recently, Drogba’s praise came for a player who has not had the easiest time at the club recently.

Didier Drogba sees similarities between himself and Nicolas Jackson

Some may be surprised to hear Drogba draw parallels with Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson has faced a lot of scrutiny from Chelsea fans, who do not view him as the right fit to lead Enzo Maresca’s attack. His finishing has been called into question more than once, adding to the frustration around him.

However, when questioned about African players in the Premier League, Drogba promptly brought up the Senegalese forward.

Speaking to Sporty TV, Drogba said: “I used to like Jackson. Yeah. Because I’ve seen a lot of similarities in his debut at Chelsea, he was wearing number 15 as well, like I was.

“Unfortunately, it was a difficult time for him at Chelsea, but now at Bayern Munich he’s doing better, so I’m happy for him.”

Jackson has not exactly hit the ground running in Germany, and some Chelsea fans have kept up their criticism even though he is no longer playing for them.

This week, the Senegalese striker has scored one more time in the Champions League. He now has two goals and one assist in the tournament, suggesting things are starting to fall into place for him.

Could Nicolas Jackson still have a future at Chelsea?

Under the terms of Jackson’s loan to Bayern, the club are only obligated to buy if he makes 40 starts. With Harry Kane ahead of him in the pecking order, that milestone looks out of reach.

Bayern do hold an option to buy regardless, but if they pass on it, a return to Stamford Bridge could be on the cards for Jackson.

Maresca has established Liam Delap and Joao Pedro as his preferred options up front, though players like Marc Guiu and Tyrique George have still managed to get some minutes.

Meanwhile, Chelsea keep adding young talent into the mix. Dastan Satpaev, just 17 years old, is already being talked about as someone who could surpass Jackson in a couple of seasons.

Jackson took plenty of stick during his time at Chelsea. Despite that, he averaged a goal or assist every other game and played an important role in their overall play. Even if he does not fit back into Maresca’s plans, there should be no shortage of clubs interested in him next summer.