Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has told current Blues star Nicolas Jackson to block out the haters and keep his head up after being racially abused on social media.
Jackson was targeted in the aftermath of his side's defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday. The club condemned the abuse and vowed to “take the strongest possible action” against any season ticket holder or member involved.
It has been a difficult debut season for Jackson after joining Chelsea in the summer transfer window. But he has still managed to score 13 goals in all competitions, as well as notching five assists.
And the 22-year-old has now received the backing of Drogba as he looks to cement himself in Chelsea's team. Drogba became a modern-day icon with the Blues, scoring more than 150 goals, as well as winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League.
The Ivory Coast legend has urged Jackson to keep working hard and try to keep away from the abuse. Drogba posted two pictures of Jackson on Twitter, with the caption: "Keep your head High UP and never stop working hard, it will pay off."
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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has also flown to Jackson's defence. The Argentine manager hit out at the faceless trolls who have made the striker a target after Chelsea's defeat.
“We all suffer, more public people suffer. More in football because people hide behind social media and that is why it is not a reference. We need to be there in social media because it is a good way to communicate with the fans," he said.
Jackson was racically abused after Chelsea's defeat to Manchester City on Saturday (Rob Newell)READ MORE: Puzzling Nicolas Jackson performances leave Chelsea pondering summer transfer
"The good fans, the good people that want to know about us. But other people who hide behind social media. The most important thing is to be strong and to know that it is not a reference for what people think of you."
Pochettino added that Jackson is “always going to lose” if compared to an “icon player here like Drogba.” But he insisted: “If we split the history of the club from the team and the performance of Jackson, he is doing fantastic.”
Jackson is set to feature when Chelsea travel to Arsenal in the Premier League on Tuesday night. And Pochettino believes that the striker has earned the right to be awarded some patience while he finds his feet.
"We are going to give him all the support for him to be in the future calmer in front of goal and to increase the percentage of scoring goals. He needs to deal with the pressure of playing for Chelsea with all the new things that have happened," he said.
"The first season is always difficult for all the players, even more so when you are a striker and you need to perform and score. He is going to be better next season for sure, no doubt about that, and he needs to keep going."
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