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The Chelsea boss was displeased that a second-half stoppage time winning goal was chalked off in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Unai Emery’s men.
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino risks punishment after appearing to criticise the officials following his side’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
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22:14 - 27.04.2024
VAR denies Chelsea sensational comeback win against Aston Villa
A commendable second-half performance saw Chelsea claw back a two-goal deficit against Aston Villa, but VAR prevented them from completing the comeback.
What happened in Aston Villa vs Chelsea?
Another slow Chelsea start was punished by Unai Emery’s men, who raced into a two-goal half-time lead after Marc Cucurella inadvertently put the ball into the wrong end after four minutes and Morgan Rogers doubled the home side's advantage minutes before the interlude.
The Blues responded after the break to equalise through Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher, and the West Londoners thought they sealed a remarkable second-half turnaround when substitute Axel Disasi headed home from close range.
But Craig Pawson chalked off the goal following a recommendation for a pitch-side review, and several Chelsea players surrounded the referee at full-time, with Madueke and Benoit Badiashile receiving yellow cards.
What Pochettino said
The late goal was disallowed because Badiashile fouled Diego Carlos in the lead-up to Disasi scoring, angering Pochettino after the game.
“They didn't see a foul on the pitch and then VAR changed the decision of the referee," Pochettino told BBC Match of the Day. "For me, that was a normal challenge. The decision was there and that's it.
"For me, it damaged a little bit the Premier League and English [football]. If we want to be the best league in the world it should be protecting the spectacle and the decision.
"It damaged myself, damaged my team, my players, my fans."
What comes next for Chelsea?
Chelsea missed a chance to move ahead of West Ham United, thus staying ninth in the Premier League standings.
The Blues host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on May 2.
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