Mauricio Pochettino claims VAR has 'damaged image of English football' after Chelsea denied winner at Aston Villa

Mauricio Pochettino has claimed the use of VAR by match officials is "damaging the image of English football" after Chelsea were denied an incredible comeback at Aston Villa.

Mauricio Pochettino's men looked to be ending a horror week in style when Axel Disasi's header in the fourth minute of time added on crashed in off the crossbar to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

But Benoit Badiashile was ruled to have fouled Diego Carlos in the build-up and the goal was ruled out meaning the visitors had to settle for a point.

Pochettino 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 in the semi-final [FA Cup against Man City] two weeks ago it was handball and it was no penalty, the referee he 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."

Reporting on the match, Sky Sports' Joe Shread said: "It's a soft call by Pawson, who was called to the pitch-side monitor - but probably fair.

"Badiashile shoves Carlos in the back as the ball is dropping. Having said that, is it a clear and obvious error?"

It had seemed like it was going to be another night to forget for Chelsea as Marc Cucurella's own goal and a Morgan Rogers strike put Villa 2-0 up at