Aston Villa: Nicolas Jackson reveals what he said to Ibrahim Mbaye after his double October 24, 2026
A contact, an assist, a double. After Aston Villa’s victory against Manchester City (2-1), Nicolas Jackson only wanted to talk about one player, and it wasn’t him. The Senegalese, author of the two goals, delivered on the microphone of Sky Sport, the response he launched to Ibrahim Mbaye, who entered the game and was decisive with his first ball.
“Brother, what was that?” »
It was through a fluke that the striker opened the discussion with his young compatriot. “I said to him, ‘Brother, what was that?’ You’ve barely set foot on the ground and you’re already giving me gifts! “, he says. Behind the smile, real admiration. “I was so happy for him. Imagine going into a match of this magnitude, with Manchester City putting pressure on you, and your very first touch being an assist. That says a lot about his confidence and his mentality. »
A direct message after the goal
Jackson even ran up to him to celebrate. “After I scored my second goal, I went straight to him because I wanted him to understand how much that pass meant to me. » Then the football lesson: “Attackers make the headlines because we put the ball in the back, but sometimes, the one who changes the match is the one who was only on the pitch for thirty seconds. »
In the process, he said to her: “Keep it up and you’ll make my life very easy!” »
“Some need 90 minutes, he needs one contact”
Jackson insists: he wants the public to pay tribute to his teammate. “He is young, he is courageous, and he did not go in to hide. He came in and he did something. He’s the kind of teammate every striker wants. » And added, in a wink: “Some players need 90 minutes to make a difference. Mbaye only needed one contact. »
Mbaye more credited than the scorer? “No, no!” »
When asked if the passer deserves more credit than the scorer, Jackson replied with a laugh: “No, no! I scored the goals, so let me enjoy my double! » But he refuses to reduce football to an individual affair: “It’s not a one-man show. Without his pass, we don’t celebrate this second goal in the same way. »
“We go up together”
He is already looking further. “Tonight he assisted me, but tomorrow I might be the one to create something for him.” That’s football. We go up together. » And the final word, in the tone of a request: “Tell him that I am waiting for another decisive pass next time! A contact, an assist… he’s already spoiling me. »
Sheikh Gora DIOP
