Mauricio Pochettino says he believes in Nicolas Jackson despite admitting that the Chelsea striker is feeling "fragile" and needs support.
The Blues boss had an exchange with a Chelsea fan sat behind the bench who shouted "wake up and score a goal" at Jackson on Saturday.
The 21-year-old struggled during the 2-0 home defeat by Brentford and has just three goals in his first 11 matches for the club.
Asked why he felt the need to respond to the fan, with far worse comments made inside football stadiums, Pochettino said: "Of course it is not the worst thing that has happened in football but we need to see also because we are very sensitive and in this situation where a player is suffering.
"For different reasons he is suffering, he has suffered an injury. After this it is difficult to train and then to score goals.
"Nico needs support. I understand the fans, they are entitled to say what they want but it was a really quiet moment and it was out of context.
"At this moment you are fragile, you need help, you need confidence and you need trust and this can change your focus."
Jackson also saw his lack of movement up front picked over by legendary striker Alan Shearer on the BBC's Match of the Day.
Pochettino watched the analysis and added: "I think that Nico, if you watch the game against Liverpool or Dortmund in pre-season, or Luton, he was doing what the analysis was about and what we expect.
"But for different circumstances, Nico was not at his best that day. For different circumstances, but we need to recover the player that was.
“I believe in him, I believe. The only problem is time. I don't want to give examples, but he arrived at Chelsea in a situation that is not easy for him.
"We cannot be unfair in the analysis because he was frustrated from the beginning for different circumstances.”
