Mauricio Pochettino: VAR has damaged English football | OneFootball

For a while it looked as though the Blues would have to settle for another disappointing loss at the hands of a top four team, but a resurgence in the second half allowed Chelsea to fight back and equalise.

The chance to claim victory almost arrived in the final moments of the game, as Axel Disasi tapped a corner into the back of Villa's net. Shortly after, the goal went to VAR, and was swiftly denied after Benoit Badiashile was accused of shoving Diego Carlos in the build-up.

Disasi's efforts were denied / DARREN STAPLES/GettyImages

He told TNT Sports: "Everyone that was watching the game will feel disappointed. Two different things, the referee said it was a foul and disallowed the goal and then going to the VAR to confirm.

"The referee is unbelievable and it's ridiculous. It is difficult to accept, these type of things happened in the semi-final [FA Cup against Man City] two weeks ago, it was handball and it was no penalty, the referee didn't check it.

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

"They said it was foul and if you see the challenge, what happened if we go into every single challenge like this it is going to be a foul and we wouldn't finish the game with 11 [players]. We can talk about the performance or the decision - it is damaging the game."