The two sides to Nicolas Jackson's game and the Chelsea conundrum facing Mauricio Pochettino
It could have been oh so different for Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea on Saturday had the Blues not passed up so many opportunities against Man City. Enduring Wembley woe time and time again in recent years, the west London club slipped to a slender 1-0 defeat in their FA Cup semi-final tie following Bernardo Silva's 84th-minute winner.
Perhaps a tad cruel on Chelsea with City not at their dominant best, the Blues paid the ultimate price for not taking their chances on goal. They had some gilt-edged ones as well, with Nicolas Jackson notably wasting three golden opportunities that would have given his side the lead and potentially a place in the showpiece final.
Arriving at Chelsea last summer from Villarreal, the 22-year-old has endured a rather up-and-down first season in the Premier League. Thirteen goals and five assists in 37 appearances is a decent return for a player in his first year in a new country trying to adapt to the pace and intensity of England's top flight.
Jackson's numbers show promise, especially for someone of his age and at this stage in his development, and they will undoubtedly grow next season if he can take his game up a further level or two. The one thing many Chelsea fans will point to is that his number of goals should be much higher following some poor misses across the course of the season.
His first miss in the FA Cup semi-final showdown against City very much highlighted poor decision making on his part when clean through. Rather than opt to get a shot away on goal 18 yards out with Stefan Ortega in an advanced position, the Senegal international opted to try and round the goalkeeper but in doing so sent himself wide.
Not only that, it allowed Kyle Walker and John Stones to get back and
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