THE NOTEBOOK: Nicolas Jackson feeds skeptics after Wembley clash, Mauricio Pochettino gives coy response to FA Cup replays… and has Lucas Paqueta lost focus ahead of summer move to Man City?

Nicolas Jackson was one-on-one with Stefan Ortega in the first half and didn’t even take a shot.

The £32m Chelsea striker has shown his potential in moments – his tally of 10 Premier League goals is the same as Didier Drogba’s in his first season – but crap like this- This will only feed those who say he is not good enough.

It’s hard to think that players like Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins wouldn’t have taken advantage of the opportunities that came his way.

THE RARE ABSENCE OF CHARONE

Chelsea board member Barbara Charone was in Barcelona rather than London on Saturday, having opted to attend the Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg which they won 1-0.

It was only the third time she had missed a men’s match at Wembley in 40 years. Charone is a legendary music PR who worked with Madness frontman Suggs on Blue Day, the song released for Chelsea’s 1997 FA Cup triumph.

Nicolas Jackson had an afternoon to forget after creating several chances for the Blues

Chelsea fans displayed a banner at Wembley created by fans group We Are The Shed

The lyrics to this song were written on a gigantic banner at Wembley created by fan group We Are The Shed which read: “Our blood is blue and we would never leave you.”

POCHETTINO COY ON FA CUP REPLAYS

Mauricio Pochettino sat on the fence when asked about ditching FA Cup replays, although he must not forget how valuable they have been to him personally.

When Chelsea traveled to Aston Villa for the fourth round replay in February, Pochettino was at serious risk.

The 3-1 victory bought them some time, but now another route to Europe has been eradicated.

GILCHRIST, THE FAN’S FAVORITE

One of the loudest cheers during the line-up reading at Wembley was reserved for replacement Alfie Gilchrist.

Of Chelsea’s six goals against Everton, no one celebrated more than Gilchrist, the academy graduate who recently signed a new contract until 2026 with a one-year option.

Chelsea plan to loan the 20-year-old defender to a Championship club next season.

Academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist became a popular figure among west London fans

HAS PAQUETA LOST HIS CONCENTRATION?

There are fears inside West Ham that Lucas Paqueta has lost focus ahead of a summer in which he is likely to sign for Manchester City.

Paqueta’s current club have not given their representatives permission to speak to City, so reports that he has agreed to personal terms have surprised Hammers sources as they emphasize that such negotiations would not be legal.

Mail Sport previously revealed that Paqueta has an £85m release clause which will become active this summer.

Paqueta was suspended for the second leg of West Ham’s Europa League outing against Bayer Leverkusen after receiving a stupid booking in the first leg and the Brazilian was not spotted at the London Stadium supporting his teammates.

West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta is set to join Manchester City this summer.

Chelsea had a huge 35-man squad – while City had just 22 – for the semi-final.

LACEY LEADS THE WAY

With five goals each, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Coventry’s Ellis Simms started the FA Cup top scorers this weekend, still actively involved in the competition.

Haaland never had the chance to add to that total here, so he remains well behind the leader in the race for the Golden Boot – Biggleswade Town’s Jonathan Lacey on 10.

The inflated Chelsea team

The size of the two teams shown on the back of the program was an amusing sight, as Chelsea’s list of 35 names almost fell off the page compared to Manchester City’s 22.