Shortly after their elimination from the Champions League by Real Madrid on penalties, Manchester City clinched a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinal, thereby enhancing their chances of claiming two titles this season.
Bernardo Silva’s late goal secured Pep Guardiola’s side a spot in the championship game, where they will face either Manchester United or Coventry.
Despite the defeat, Chelsea rued numerous missed opportunities to seize the lead throughout the match.
Particularly, Jackson, who has been erratic in front of goal this season, bore the brunt of criticism for the west London side.
Despite finding himself in a prime scoring position with only Stefan Ortega to beat, Jackson remarkably failed to convert, with his Expected Goals (xG) registering at 0.00, according to xGPhilosophy.
Jackson’s lackluster performance prompted sharp rebukes from several Chelsea supporters, with some calling for his exclusion from the club altogether.
One individual remarked that allowing Jackson to shoot at will was an effective strategy to thwart him, given the certainty that he would not find the net.
Furthermore, critics of Jackson’s performance adopted an xG-centric perspective, asserting that he should have scored a hat trick based on the opportunities he squandered.
Others labeled him as an uninteresting player who should be offloaded in the summer transfer window.
Despite signing an eight-year contract with Chelsea in June of the previous year following a promising preseason, Jackson’s contributions this season have been overshadowed by his inconsistent form.
While he has managed to tally ten goals in the league, his performances have been marred by costly errors and a propensity for accumulating yellow cards.
While Jackson’s goal return may appear commendable at first glance, comparisons to the rookie campaigns of Chelsea legends Didier Drogba, Gianfranco Zola, and Eden Hazard highlight the glaring disparities in performance.
Jackson’s failure to consistently deliver at a level befitting Chelsea’s standards has led to mounting frustration among supporters, who are now calling for decisive action to address the situation.
