Chelsea boss Pochettino slams VAR which has damaged English football after controversial decision denied Blues victory

Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, has expressed his frustration with the use of VAR in English football following a contentious decision that denied his team a dramatic comeback victory against Aston Villa.

Despite trailing 2-0 at half-time, Chelsea mounted a remarkable comeback in the second half, with Axel Disasi seemingly securing a stoppage-time winner. However, VAR intervened, spotting a foul in the build-up to the goal, ultimately disallowing it and leaving Chelsea frustrated.

In the aftermath of the match, Pochettino criticized the impact of VAR on English football, describing it as "damaging" and "ridiculous." He expressed the need to explain such decisions to the public, emphasizing the confusion and frustration they cause among players, fans, and managers alike.

Pochettino lamented the negative effects of VAR on the image of English football, highlighting the confusion it creates among players, fans, and even referees. He emphasized the need for clarity and consistency in refereeing decisions to maintain the integrity of the game.

'We need to explain this to the people,' Pochettino said afterwards. 'I don't want to talk bad about the referee, but it is unbelievable, it's ridiculous.

'It is really painful as it has damaged English football, the image, and even Aston Villa players and the fans didn't understand why.

The Chelsea boss called for greater clarity in VAR decisions, suggesting that the current interpretation of fouls could lead to a situation where teams are constantly reduced to fewer than 11 players due to frequent stoppages for fouls.

The disallowed goal had a significant impact on the match result, denying Chelsea what would have been a thrilling comeback victory and instead leaving them with a disappointing draw.

As debates surrounding the use of VAR in football continue, Pochettino's criticism adds to the growing chorus of voices calling for reforms to ensure fair and consistent refereeing decisions in the game.