Enzo Maresca's Chelsea return to the Allianz Arena for their Champions League opener on Wednesday, facing a familiar foe in Nicolas Jackson. The Senegalese striker, who left Stamford Bridge on loan last month, is expected to feature against his former club, eager to prove they were wrong to let him go.
Jackson's move to Bayern was far from straightforward. An initial agreement fell through after Liam Delap's injury left Chelsea short of strikers, but Jackson remained in Germany, refused to play second fiddle to João Pedro, and ultimately secured a loan with a €65m obligation to buy, triggered by a set number of appearances.
Despite his departure, Jackson was not a flop at Chelsea, scoring 24 goals in 65 Premier League appearances and forming a strong link with Cole Palmer. Maresca once called him “my perfect No 9,” but the manager's patience ran out after two red cards, leading to the striker's exit. Chelsea now rely on the injured Delap and João Pedro, leaving a potential void.
The fixture also pits two Pep Guardiola disciples against each other: Maresca and Bayern boss Vincent Kompany. Kompany, who has admirers at Chelsea, may tap into Jackson's knowledge of his former side's tactics. Maresca could deploy the system that beat PSG in the Club World Cup final, with Palmer drifting wide and a strong midfield trio.
Chelsea's return to the Champions League after two years brings them back to the site of their 2012 triumph. While memories of that upset linger, Maresca's young, expensively assembled squad travel as world champions, promising a tense and intriguing contest.
