Chelsea striker Jackson criticized after FA Cup semi-final
The Senegalese striker missed many important chances in Chelsea's 1-0 loss.
LONDON — Pundits and fans are criticizing Chelsea striker and Senegal star Nicolas Jackson after his missed chances and sluggish performance in the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City. They lost the game 1-0 thanks to Bernando Silva’s last-gasp winner. A win would’ve taken Chelsea to the FA Cup final in Wembley against either Coventry City or Manchester United.
Jackson had three shots against City. The first, in the seventh minute, came after he made a clever run behind the defense. However, his shot, forced amid heavy pressure from Kyle Walker, fell safely into the gloves of Stefan Ortega.
The second came in the 48th minute with the game still tied. Jackson made another run behind the defense and received the ball off a clever through-ball from Cole Palmer. Despite no one fully contesting his shot, Jackson scuffed his attempt, allowing Ortega to make a quick, simple deflection away from danger.
Jackson had another opportunity when Ortega’s deflection landed right at the feet of Palmer at the far edge of the box. Palmer’s cross connected with Jackson’s head beautifully, and Jackson had all the time in the world to put in a header across the side of the goal with no one marking him. However, he sent his header into the ground, which Ortega simply tapped away with his hand and collected.
“He’s shown pace, he’s shown good movement but there’s a technical detail there, the extra touch, the decision making at the highest level in these highest level of games are the difference,” former Chelsea legend Frank Lampard told GOAL.
“The header, you hit anywhere but his body it’s a goal. Little decision-making, I feel for him, we’ve all been there, we’ve all missed chances and it’s a critical one for the game,” “But as a young player that’s the level that you have to be a striker for Chelsea.”
Despite his finishing woes and blown chances throughout the season, Jackson has thirteen goals and five assists for the Blues in 37 total appearances. Chelsea currently rests in ninth in the Premier League, thirteen points away from European action with seven league games to go.