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

Nicolas Jackson was one-on-one with Stefan Ortega in the first half and somehow did not even take a shot. 

Chelsea’s £32million striker has shown his potential in glimpses – his total of 10 Premier League goals is the same that Didier Drogba managed in his first season – but cock-ups like this one will only feed those who say he is not good enough.

It is hard to think that the likes of Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins would not have seized the chances that came his way.

CHARONE’S RARE ABSENCE 

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

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

Nicolas Jackson had an afternoon to forget after spruning multiple chances for the Blues

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

Lyrics from that tune were written on a gigantic banner at Wembley created by the fan group We Are The Shed which read: ‘Our blood is blue and we would leave you never.’

POCHETTINO COY ON FA CUP REPLAYS 

Mauricio Pochettino sat on the fence when asked about FA Cup replays being scrapped, though he should not forget how valuable they have been for him personally. 

When Chelsea visited Aston Villa for their fourth-round replay in February, Pochettino was at serious risk. 

That 3-1 victory bought him time but now, another avenue into Europe has been eradicated.

FAN-FAVOURITE GILCHRIST 

One of the loudest cheers when the line-ups were being read at Wembley was reserved for the substitute Alfie Gilchrist. 

Of Chelsea’s six goals against Everton, nobody celebrated scoring 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 has become a popular figure among fans in west London

HAS PAQUETA LOST HIS FOCUS? 

There are fears inside of 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 his representatives permission to speak to City, so reports stating that he has agreed personal terms took Hammers sources by surprise as they stress such negotiations would not be legal. 

Mail Sport previously revealed Paqueta has an £85million release clause that becomes active this summer. 

Paqueta was suspended for the second leg of West Ham’s Europa League exit to Bayer Leverkusen after picking up a silly caution in the first leg and the Brazilian was not spotted at the London Stadium supporting his team-mates.

West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta has been tipped to join Manchester City in the summer

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

LACEY LEADS THE WAY 

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

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

CHELSEA’S BLOATED SQUAD 

The size of the two squads listed on the back of the programme was an amusing sight, as Chelsea’s list of 35 names nearly fell off the page compared to Manchester City’s 22.