According to a post on ESPN UK’s official Facebook account on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the media outlet shared images of Nicolas Jackson celebrating after scoring against Manchester City, drawing attention to the striker’s previous relationship with City manager Enzo Maresca.

The post, published on Saturday, was captioned: “Nicolas Jackson’s celebration after scoring against his former manager… 👀👎”

Jackson put Aston Villa ahead in the sixth minute of their Premier League encounter with Manchester City. According to the supplied match update, Villa maintained a 1-0 lead at half-time.

The goal attracted additional attention because of Jackson’s history with Maresca. The striker was reportedly excluded from Chelsea’s plans at the beginning of the 2025/26 season when the Italian manager was in charge of the London club.

Following a loan spell at Bayern Munich, Jackson moved to Aston Villa, where he now plays under manager Unai Emery.

His early goal against Maresca’s Manchester City side quickly became a talking point, particularly because of the celebration that followed.

The supplied account described Jackson’s reaction as a cold gesture directed at his former manager. However, ESPN UK’s caption did not explain the celebration or confirm whether Maresca was its intended target.

Nevertheless, the wording of the social media post encouraged speculation among fans about a possible personal dimension to the moment.

The encounter featured Aston Villa seeking to capitalise on home advantage against a Manchester City side managed by Maresca. Jackson’s sixth-minute strike gave Villa an early advantage and brought renewed attention to his career journey.

His departure from Chelsea followed uncertainty surrounding his role at the club. After spending time on loan at Bayern Munich, the forward secured a permanent move to Aston Villa, returning to the Premier League.

The transfer placed Jackson on the opposite side from Maresca, adding another layer of interest to their latest meeting.

ESPN UK’s post subsequently attracted attention to the connection between the striker and his former manager, alongside Jackson’s contribution to Aston Villa’s performance.