Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his frustration with video technology in English football after Axel Disasi had a late winner disallowed in their draw against Aston Villa. Pochettino’s side fought back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a point, but Disasi’s goal in the 95th minute was overturned by VAR due to a foul in the build-up. Pochettino criticized the decision, stating that it damaged the Premier League and English football as a whole. He argued that if the league wants to be the best in the world, it should prioritize protecting the spectacle of the game and making fair decisions.
Despite the contentious disallowed goal, Chelsea showed resilience and character in their comeback. After a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Arsenal earlier in the week, Pochettino had called his team “soft,” but they proved him wrong with their performance against Villa. However, there were still some familiar issues for Chelsea, as they conceded two soft goals in the first half. Additionally, they have now gone 14 away games without a clean sheet, highlighting their defensive struggles.
On a positive note, Chelsea’s attacking players stepped up in the second half. Noni Madueke continued to impress, scoring his third goal in the past six away games. Conor Gallagher also stood out with a fantastic curling effort from outside the box to equalize for Chelsea. Despite their frustration with the disallowed goal, Chelsea can take confidence from their ability to fight back against a top-four chasing team like Villa.
For Aston Villa, the result could potentially damage their hopes of securing a top-four finish. With a home game against Liverpool and away trips to Brighton and Crystal Palace coming up, dropping points against Chelsea was a blow. They were unable to maintain their early momentum and struggled to create opportunities in the second half. Ollie Watkins had a late chance to win the game but sent his shot over the bar. The loss of goalkeeper Emi Martinez at halftime due to injury was another setback for Villa, especially with their Europa Conference League semi-final on the horizon.
Despite the disappointment, there were positives for Villa to take away from the game. Morgan Rogers continued his impressive form, scoring his third goal in as many games at Villa Park. The 21-year-old has been a standout player for Villa since joining in January, and manager Unai Emery expressed his happiness with his performance. Emery also highlighted that securing a spot in the Europa League and remaining contenders for the top four were important achievements for the team.
Overall, the match between Aston Villa and Chelsea was filled with drama and controversy due to the disallowed goal. While Pochettino criticized VAR and its impact on English football, both teams showed resilience and determination in their performances. Chelsea will need to address their defensive issues, while Villa will hope to bounce back in their upcoming crucial fixtures.