BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, April 28, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Mauricio Pochettino
claimed VAR has damaged the Premier League after Chelsea had a late goal
controversially disallowed in their dramatic 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on
Saturday.

Pochettino's side trailed to Marc Cucurella's early own goal and a Morgan
Rogers strike before half-time at Villa Park.

Rather than capitulate as they did in Tuesday's humiliating 5-0 loss at
Arsenal, the Blues dug deep to rescue a gritty point thanks to goals from
Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher.

But Chelsea thought they had won it deep into stoppage-time when Villa keeper
Robin Olsen turned Axel Disasi's effort into his own net, however, to
Pochettino's fury, the goal was disallowed for a Benoit Badiashile foul.

"The referee is unbelievable and it's ridiculous. It is difficult to accept,"
Pochettino said.

"They didn't see a foul on the pitch and then VAR changed the decision of the
referee. For me that was a normal challenge.

"It is painful as it has damaged English football. Villa's players and their
fans didn't understand why the goal was disallowed.

"For me it damaged a little bit the Premier League. If we want to be the best
league in the world it should be protecting the spectacle and the decision."

The draw was a blow to Villa's hopes of holding off Tottenham in the race to
qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.

Villa are seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who host Premier
League leaders Arsenal on Sunday in the first of three games in hand on Unai
Emery's side.

Although Villa, who last finished as high as fourth in 1995-96, remain
favourites to clinch the lucrative Champions League berth, they might feel a
little nervous if Tottenham win the north London derby.

"We wanted to play Europa League last year and now we have a new challenge
which is to play Champions League," Emery said.

"Chelsea today showed the power. But to draw at the end is a very good
result. I want more, of course."

The under-fire Pochettino reportedly retains the backing of Chelsea's ninth
placed squad -- which has been assembled for over œ1 billion -- despite a
difficult campaign that included an FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City
last weekend.

They proved that point by refusing to surrender against a Villa team that
flew at them in a vibrant start.

- Chelsea refuse to surrender -

In the fourth minute, Lucas Digne poked a low cross into the Chelsea six-yard
box, where John McGinn's scuffed shot was deflected into his own net by
Cucurella.

But Villa's momentum had stalled and they suffered a setback when Belgian
midfielder Youri Tielemans limped off injured.

Nicolas Jackson was inches away from equalising with a close-range header
from Cucurella's cross that glanced off the post.

The much-maligned Jackson should have buried that chance and Ollie Watkins
almost made him pay with a powerful drive that Djordje Petrovic saved at his
near post.

It was a warning Chelsea failed to heed as Rogers doubled Villa's advantage
in the 41st minute.

Matty Cash's pass picked out Rogers and the 21-year-old, given too much time
and space on the edge of the area, swept a perfectly-placed strike past
Petrovic for his third goal since his January arrival from Middlesbrough.

Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez was forced off with an injury at half-time and
his replacement Olsen had to pick the ball out of the net in the 62nd minute.

Pau Torres carelessly lost possession, with Gallagher's touch reaching
Madueke, who slotted a fine finish past the Swedish keeper from 10 yards.

Madueke almost completed Chelsea's fightback, but his flicked effort was
parried by Olsen.

The winger wasn't left to rue that miss as Gallagher rescued a deserved point
for Chelsea in the 81st minute with a superb curler into the far corner from
the edge of the area.