Missing Jackson gets lambasted in the English press: 'A billion apologies needed'

Chelsea's performance in the semifinal of the cup against Manchester City was robust, yet the team was let down by the inefficacy of their forward, Jackson.

The English media were unforgiving, with The Daily Mail dubbing him a "wizard of waste." The focus on Chelsea’s inability to clinch the win was attributed to the multitude of squandered opportunities by their striker. The paper lamented, "It could have been so beautiful," highlighting the missed chance to secure a victory in a crucial match.

The Independent highlighted Chelsea's recurring struggles at England's neutral venue, Wembley, where pivotal matches are played. It cited "Death, taxes, and Wembley jitters for Chelsea" as life’s certainties. The newspaper also employed a pun based on the song "Ms. Jackson" by Outkast, mockingly suggesting, "I'm sorry, Mr. Jackson, but you owe a billion apologies for this match. This is your fault." It further criticized Chelsea’s season as so farcical that "Amazon will regret to this day not having placed a camera crew on the team for a documentary."

The London Evening Standard shifted the blame partly to officiating errors, pointing out a controversial moment when Jack Grealish was hit by the ball on his outstretched arm during a Cole Palmer free kick. Chelsea's manager, Mauricio Pochettino, was reportedly infuriated by the non-call, yet the paper argued that he should equally be exasperated by his team’s lack of clinical finishing, emphasizing, "Chelsea is not a failing team worth a billion, but they do need a finisher."

In an imaginative twist, the narrative likened Jackson's efforts to blow down the metaphorical house of Manchester City's coach, Pep Guardiola, to the fairy tale "The Three Little Pigs." It noted, "Jackson huffs and puffs, but can’t blow down Guardiola’s house." At 22 years old, Jackson's prominence in the game was acknowledged, albeit for his repeated failure to perform when it mattered most. His lack of clinical precision was cited as a key reason for Chelsea's impending trophy-less season.

Amidst these critiques, Chelsea's broader season context was also discussed. Currently positioned ninth in the Premier League, Chelsea had previously suffered a defeat in the final of the League Cup. This loss to Liverpool at Wembley earlier in February added to the narrative of their recurring struggles at this iconic venue, emphasizing a season of high expectations undermined by critical shortcomings at crucial moments.