Mauricio Pochettino criticizes VAR following Chelsea’s tie at Aston Villa.
Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of Chelsea, has expressed his frustration with the decision to disallow Axel Disasi’s goal during their match against Aston Villa. Pochettino believes that VAR has “damaged English football” after the goal, which would have put Chelsea ahead 3-2 in stoppage time, was ruled out.
Chelsea fought back from a two-goal deficit at Villa Park, with goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher. However, Disasi’s goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time was disallowed due to a foul by Benoit Badiashile on Diego Carlos.
When asked about his frustrations, Pochettino remained calm but criticized the impact of VAR on crucial moments in English football. He described the decision as “unbelievable” and “ridiculous,” stating that it has damaged the image of the game.
Pochettino praised his team’s second-half performance against a strong Aston Villa side, but he believes that the disallowed goal will overshadow their efforts. He acknowledged that the headline will focus on the controversy rather than their improved display.
The disallowed goal has dealt a blow to Chelsea’s hopes of securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League. They currently sit six points behind Manchester United in sixth place, but still have a game in hand.
Overall, Pochettino’s frustration with VAR reflects the growing concerns about its impact on the game, and he believes that decisions like these are damaging the sport.