According to a report by ESPN UK’s official Facebook account on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Nicolas Jackson attracted attention after celebrating his goal against Manchester City, bringing renewed focus to his past relationship with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Jackson scored in the sixth minute of Aston Villa’s Premier League clash against Manchester City, giving the hosts an early 1-0 lead. The goal provided Villa with a strong start as they looked to take advantage of playing at home against one of the league’s leading teams. Villa maintained their advantage at half-time.

However, Jackson’s goal attracted attention beyond its impact on the match because of his history with Maresca. The striker previously played for Chelsea under the Italian manager but was reportedly left out of the club’s plans at the beginning of the 2025/26 season.

His departure from Chelsea eventually led to a loan move to Bayern Munich before he joined Aston Villa, where he has another opportunity to establish himself in the Premier League.

Jackson’s performance against Manchester City was therefore particularly interesting, as he faced a team managed by Maresca’s former Premier League rival while continuing his career under Villa boss Unai Emery.

Following the goal, ESPN UK shared images of Jackson celebrating and highlighted his connection with his former manager in the caption.

The post read, Nicolas Jackson’s celebration after scoring against his former manager…

The caption quickly drew attention to the history between Jackson and Maresca. However, ESPN UK did not confirm whether the striker intended his celebration as a direct message to the Manchester City manager.

Nevertheless, the moment sparked discussions among football fans about the possible meaning behind the celebration and the circumstances that led to Jackson’s departure from Chelsea.

His early strike also gave Aston Villa an important advantage, putting Manchester City under pressure just six minutes into the encounter.

While Jackson’s goal was significant for Villa’s performance, the reaction to his celebration demonstrated how past relationships between players and managers can add extra interest to a Premier League fixture.

For Jackson, the match offered another opportunity to prove his value at Aston Villa and contribute against a major opponent as he continues his career under Emery.