Disasi’s header was ruled out by VAR -Credit:Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Noni Madueke believes Chelsea’s late winner against Aston Villa should have stood after Axel Disasi’s header was ruled out by VAR.
The Blues trailed 2-0 at the break at Villa Park after Morgan Rogers’ doubled Villa’s lead following Marc Cucurella’s early own goal. Madueke and Conor Gallagher scored the goals for Chelsea in the second half and thought they had claimed a late winner through Disasi.
He headed in Benoit Badiashile’s cross before seeing his effort go in via Robin Olsen. Referee Craig Pawson was called to the on-field VAR monitor and deemed that Badiashile had impeded Diego Carlos.
The decision was, of course, greeted by huge protests from the travelling fans and received with a big cheer from Villa supporters. A number of Chelsea players vented their frustration at the call, which continued after the full-time whistle.
A seething Madueke said after the game: “Should it have been three points? Yes. Do I think the goal should have stood? Yes. Nothing else to say about the situation.
“We need to play better at times in phases of the game. We have an abundance of quality and when we fire we’re a match for any team. The last game was terrible. For 70 minutes today the team were outstanding.
“It’s a process. I’m proud of the team today. We beat them here earlier in the season as well. We wanted to come here and win but it wasn’t to be.”
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Mauricio Pochettino meanwhile, also made his feelings clear. “Me and you and everyone in the stadium watching the game,” he 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. 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. At Wembley for handball was a penalty against Manchester City and the referee didn’t check and the VAR didn’t advise the referee to see the incident.
“Damaged myself, damaged my team, my players, my fans. We are a young team. The performance was good. I’m so happy with the reaction.”