Why Cole Palmer fights with Pochettino assistant coach after Chelsea 2-2 draw against Aston Villa
At full time, the Chelsea players had to be separated from referee Craig Pawson due to their outburst after Axel Disasi’s late winner against Aston Villa was disallowed. Mauricio Pochettino’s team was behind 2-0 in the first half and appeared to have pulled off an incredible comeback in the last seconds, but they were denied.
It was decided that Benoit Badiashile’s push on Villa defender Diego Carlos preceded Disasi’s header. He reversed his ruling, which Pawson had not initially given, following a VAR-recommended on-field review.
Pochettino was not the only one who was incensed with the result. Disasi confronted Pawson as the officials at full time.
Noni Madueke – who sparked the comeback with a fine finish shortly after the break – was also looking to question the man in the middle. Disasi held him back though, shrugging the winger off with his right arm.
Badiashile joined his former Monaco teammate in surrounding Pawson as Blue shirts gathered. Madueke was booked for his involvement but Disasi was keen to go it alone, pushing Badiashile away with his left hand this time.
The denied goalscorer was keen to have his own time in speaking to the referee whilst Badiashile continued to point and stare. Chelsea assistant Jesus Perez was also onto the scene within moments of the game ending.
He pulled Disasi away, pushing Trevoh Chalobah and Madueke further apart as the inquest went on. Goalkeeping coach Miguel D’Agostino arrived soon after to clear away the blue shirts as things descended into angry chaos in the centre of the pitch.
Cole Palmer snuck in to speak to Pawson himself but was another to be pushed away by Perez. As he got a hand in the chest, Palmer turned to Perez, seemingly unhappy at being removed from the situation. The pair had a brief confrontation and exchanged angry words.
Palmer quickly turned back to Pawson only for Perez to keep up his act as mediator. In the end it took two Chelsea members of staff to prize the 21-year-old away but even then he was replaced by his manager in standing face-to-face with the orange shirted officials.
Pochettino shook hands with the entire team before asking questions of Pawson specifically. Gallagher also continued to quiz the man in the middle, shouting, “ref, ref,” over the crowd of bodies in front of him before making his way over.
After the match Pochettino vented his frustration at the process that led to the goal being ruled out. “The referee didn’t see the action,” he said. “But then the VAR changed the decision. If the referee is saying he was fouled and then goes to check and sticks with the decision, okay no problem. But he didn’t say it was a foul.
“It was a challenge that happens so many times in football. In this moment, for us, it was massive for the three points, to have success and get into European competition for next season.”