Chelsea

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking to BBC Sport following the game: "The performance was great, against a very good team. Disappointed, but what can we do? We need to move on."

On if he thought their late goal should have stood: "Me and you and everyone in the stadium watching the game. 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 is it.

"For me, it [VAR technology] has 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.

"[It has] 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."

Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has been speaking following the draw: "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 are a match for any team.

"The last game was terrible, but for 70 minutes today the team were outstanding. It is a process. I am 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."

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino called his side "soft" after their 5-0 hammering at Arsenal on Wednesday.

He will having a different feeling on Saturday night, maybe even one of pride.

There were familiar weaknesses in the first half, both defensively and in the attacking third, but they showed a resolve that has not always been present in the second period.

They were by far the better side in the second 45, having 13 shots to Villa's four and deservedly left Villa Park with something to show for their efforts.

The Blues will feel aggrieved it wasn't more, with their players incensed that Axel Disasi's stoppage-time goal was disallowed after referee Craig Pawson was asked to the pitchside monitor to review a goal earlier in the build-up.

For Chelsea to be disappointed and frustrated by only taking a point home from a trip to a Champions League contender is a step in the right direction.

Backing it up is the next challenge.

Chelsea skipper Conor Gallagher has been speaking to TNT Sports following the comeback draw: "We are gutted. It was quite a poor first half, just too slow on the ball. Second half was brilliant and we came back.

"I felt we should have won the game. I'm proud of the lads for their second half performance.

"The gaffer [Mauricio Pochettino], long story short, said: 'Liven up and work harder'. Like I said, the second half was a lot better."

On his goal: "An absolute swinger! I was happy with the goal and disappointed to not get the third.

"We had chances to win and we showed great character. The goal at the end should have counted, but it is not my decision. We can hold our heads high and take a lot of confidence from that.

"We are still on a journey to keep improving and we are nowhere near where we want to be as a club.

"I try my best and I have so much to improve on as well, in every aspect of my game."

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday’s game between Aston Villa and Chelsea in the Premier League.

• Chelsea avoided defeat for just the fourth time in 51 Premier League games in which they were two or more goals behind at half-time, also drawing 3-3 with Sheffield Wednesday (August 1992), 2-2 with Tottenham (May 2016), and 3-3 with West Bromwich Albion (September 2020).

• Aston Villa have scored 73 Premier League goals this season, their most in a single top-flight campaign since 1976-77 (76 goals).

• Chelsea have won just one of their past 19 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top four (D7 L11), winning 4-1 at Tottenham in November this season.

• Marc Cucurella’s own goal after 03:44 was the second earliest Chelsea have conceded an own goal in a Premier League match, after David Luiz put through his own net after 03:08 against Manchester United in October 2012.

• At 21 years and 276 days, Morgan Rogers is the youngest Aston Villa player to score in three consecutive Premier League home appearances. He has been involved in four goals in his past five league games for the Villans (3 goals, 1 assist).

Axel Disasi had a stoppage-time winner disallowed, but Chelsea came from two goals down to dent Aston Villa's top-four hopes in Birmingham.

Disasi thought he had sealed victory after he nodded home Benoit Badiashile's cross, but the video assistant referee (VAR) recommended an on-field review and referee Craig Pawson decided the latter had barged a Villa defender before the cross.

Chelsea's players were incensed and crowded Pawson at the full-time whistle, while manager Mauricio Pochettino had a passionate discussion with Villa defender Ezri Konsa.

Villa, whose top-four hopes are now not in their hands as a result of the dropped points, had taken an early lead after John McGinn's miscued effort deflected off Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella and into the bottom corner.

The visitors responded well with Nicolas Jackson having an effort disallowed by the video assistant referee for offside, before the Senegal international planted a header against the base of the post.

Morgan Rogers doubled the home side's lead after finding space on the left and tucking the ball into the near post through the legs of Trevoh Chalobah.

Chelsea found a route back into the game after catching Villa in possession high up the pitch, with Noni Madueke sliding a clever finish into the far corner.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser, without creating too many opportunities, until Gallagher worked a shooting opportunity on his left foot and curled into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Both sides had chances to win the game before the disallowed goal, with Ollie Watkins slicing a cutback over the bar and Cole Palmer having a shot saved when dribbling through one-on-one.

Unai Emery's side are seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, but Ange Postecoglou's side have three games in hand, starting with Sunday's north London derby against Arsenal.

There was further concern for Villa too, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez withdrawn at half-time after appearing to struggle with a thigh injury in the first period, and any period of absence could damage them with their Europa Conference League semi-final this week.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

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Follow all of the reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on Andy Bell and Steve Queralt from Ride, who support Arsenal and Tottenham.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

I just don't understand how Chelsea can go from pushing Manchester City close in three games this season to the inept level of performance we saw from them against Arsenal on Tuesday.

I think they should stick with their manager Mauricio Pochettino regardless of what happens in their remaining games, but another walloping here will obviously damage his cause.

Chelsea won at Villa Park in the FA Cup in February, and I am actually expecting a response from them - but Aston Villa will still be too good for them.

Tottenham can move level with Unai Emery's side in fourth place if they win their games in hand but I'd much rather be in Villa's position. They have all the momentum at the moment, and look full of confidence too.

Andy's prediction: 2-2

I've gone for a draw here.

Steve's prediction: 3-0

Villa are kind of steamrolling their way to fourth spot now, and I also could not wish anything but the worst for Chelsea.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and we will bring you every moment.

Follow live text updates and listen online here

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

Manchester United v Burnley - Listen on BBC Sounds from 15:00

Everton v Brentford - Listen on BBC Sounds from 17:30

On Tuesday night, with Chelsea 3-0 down at Arsenal and in dire need of a spark, Nicolas Jackson received a clever pass from Noni Madueke, left one of the Premier League's best defenders in Gabriel on his backside with a brilliant touch - and then duffed his finish into the side-netting.

In the first half, he had missed arguably an even better opportunity, misreading the flight of Conor Gallagher's cross and shouldering a chance he should have buried into David Raya's arms.

Add them to the list.

The Senegal striker has 10 Premier League goals this season but is joint third on the list for most big chances missed (20).

Last Sunday, he was woefully off target against Manchester City when just one taken opportunity might have granted Chelsea an FA Cup final place and boss Mauricio Pochettino a shot at redeeming this season.

But have the narratives behind the 22-year-old been too critical? After all, he was never supposed to be Chelsea's leading source of goals in 2023-24. That was meant to be Christopher Nkunku, the Bundesliga hotshot who seemed tailormade for the Premier League, only to spend much of the year out injured.

Before this season, Jackson had made fewer than 70 senior appearances and only scored 14 goals, most of them arriving in a particularly searing end to last season when he hit nine in the final eight matches of La Liga.

To expect a player with that record, in this disjointed and at times confused team to score 20+ is a bit of a reach.

Maybe his frustration with missing chances explains his bizarre antics against Everton when at 4-0 up he sulked about Cole Palmer taking the penalty. After all, there must be a touch of wistfulness when he eyes his younger (21) Chelsea team-mate who has bagged 23 goals and offered 13 assists as the team's shining light this season.

And for those cynical about excuses that Jackson is still raw, Palmer's extraordinary statistics are a pretty robust argument.

The plan was always to play Nkunku and Jackson together, one with strength and power, the other pace and agility. A tiny sample size from pre-season hinted what they could do when fielded together - only that seems a long time ago now.

Jackson is certainly not the first striker to struggle in Chelsea blue but he has at least shown the raw ingredients to suggest he can be a success at Stamford Bridge.

Now he just needs to start putting the ball in the net.

I have watched Nicolas Jackson this season and he's missed opportunity after opportunity.

Then, he has scored a few goals and has been a threat.

Against Manchester City, when the ball was spun in behind I thought 'now I've seen what he is about'. That was when I realised he wants space to spin into and find good areas.

I thought he was a threat all game.

He is going to get better. I just also think a team that is not always doing too well does not help a player trying to be the focal point at the top of the pitch.

There is a lot of room for improvement but we have seen some signs of the talent that is expected.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says it is "a problem" if he has to motivate the players for the remainder of the season.

The Blues' lost their last chance for silverware this season in their late defeat by Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday and could not bounce back in their midweek Premier League match against Arsenal, where they were thumped 5-0 at the Emirates.

The Blues still have the opportunity to qualify for European competition, however, sitting three points off Newcastle United in seventh and six points off Manchester United in sixth, but with a game in hand on both sides.

"We think that we are responsible to motivate players, why? It's difficult to accept. If you play for Chelsea that motivation is there, even if you play in a friendly," Pochettino said.

"If you don't have motivation it is difficult. If you ask me that we need to motivate players for the next game, then we have a problem.

"I don't believe that is the problem - the problem is to have the capacity to perform. We can't give them the excuses not to perform, but at the same time we are people, we are not a machine and with some circumstances you lose the reference of those things a little bit."

Despite suffering yet another injury blow with midfielder Enzo Fernandez out for the remainder of the season, Pochettino will be hoping the side can put those difficulties behind them when they face fourth-placed Aston Villa on Saturday.

"We are here to help them be focused. There is still six games to play and they are important six games," he added.

"Our responsibility is to make sure they perform at their best. We don't say it is only a few weeks and then holidays. No, it is important to me and it is important to them to finish in a strong way."

Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking to the media before Chelsea travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Pochettino confirmed Cole Palmer is fit to return, Reece James and Levi Colwill are "getting close" but still not ready, while Raheem Sterling has suffered a lower back problem and Carney Chukwuemeka has an issue with his knee.

• On whether Enzo Fernandez could have waited until the end of the season for surgery: "In the moment he feels the pain and he feels the limitation because of the problem. Most important thing is to fix the problem for him. If he feels not well and can't perform because of that then it is not good for him, the team or the club."

• He said it is "not true" that they fell apart after conceding first to Arsenal, but that "maybe second-half we showed a lack of capacity to believe it was possible". He added: "But the first 45 minutes everyone believed and the team was there fighting to try and draw or win the game."

• Pochettino said: "Lack of belief sometimes happens with circumstances. The disappointment of Manchester City and trying to recover to then face a team playing for the title. The circumstances were all negative for the team and that is why we suffer."

• On if they lack leaders on the pitch: "That can happen in any team. It is possible you can suffer this type of result with experience or without, with leaders or no leaders, with character or no character. In football that can happen and even more in the Premier League."

• On reacting against Aston Villa: "We realise how we need to behave when the game is tough and demands are high. We need to be more strong and really trust in way we play and the philosophy. It is true after the game we can't blame the players. The circumstances are not helping us, but tomorrow we need to believe we can win again."

• Pochettino said he "didn't cross messages" with the owners in the past few months "but things don't change my view or feelings".

• On if players need to show they are good enough for next season: "Yes because it looks like only I need to prove. Because always the coach needs to prove he needs be here next season but we are all responsible and we all need to prove we deserve to be here next season."

Follow Friday's manager news conference updates

I thought Chelsea had some great chances in the FA Cup semi-final but Manchester City were the more clinical.

But then I would be cautious with thinking how good Chelsea were. I would have to say City looked extremely fatigued like I had not seen them for a while.

And then for Chelsea to go get beaten like they did away against Arsenal just when you thought they had turned the corner by beating Everton convincingly... their inconsistency returned and their willingness and desire seemed to disappear.

Missing Cole Palmer was a big talking point but now Mauricio Pochettino is questioning the mentality of the players. It cannot all be on the manager when the club has got a squad like that.

He has got the experience. Maybe there is just a little bit of selfishness at times in a couple of the players not realising the importance of the team and feeling sorry for themselves. That means it is going to take more time than we expected.

The model is very strange. When you sign the amount of players they did on huge contracts, it is a very difficult situation.

There’s no question that there is big talent in the building but the talent then needs to turn into mature, seasoned players.

Which manager can change it if he cannot? I’ve spoken to several players who have worked under Pochettino and they commented on how thorough he was and how fair he was.

I do not think his knowledge and understanding has changed, but at times it has looked and felt like they are not fluid. They do things a bit differently - and it just has not been smooth.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino's position will be reviewed at the end of the season, but most of the Blues squad do not want him sacked, as they look for more stability at the club. (Standard), external

Want more news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Reuters

On the latest episode of the Footballer's Football Podcast, West Ham striker Michail Antonio defended Chelsea's performance against Arsenal and described it as an "off day" for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

The Gunners put five past the Blues at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, including two goals from ex-Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.

"These crazy results can happen every now and then," said Antonio. "I would not say it is the end of the world for Chelsea as they have been performing well over the past couple of weeks.

"It is one bad result against Arsenal, who are a very strong team, so you cannot think too negatively about it in my eyes.

"When it is an off day, anything can happen."

It was Blues' heaviest defeat to Arsenal in the club's history and had the home side taken their chances, it could have been an even more humiliating score.

"Over the years it has been such a competitive fixture," added co-host and Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney. "So in our heads you expect it to be like that and it was not. The level between them is probably the hardest thing to take as a Chelsea fan right now.

"It is scary to see."

Listen to the Footballer's Football Podcast on BBC Sounds

Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before Aston Villa host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

• Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Chelsea since 1989-90, when the Blues were a newly promoted side and the Villans eventually finished in second place.

• Chelsea won 3-1 against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup this season – the last team to beat the Villans twice on the road in the same campaign were Tottenham in 2013-14.

• Having lost his first Premier League meeting with Chelsea in just his second game in charge in the competition in August 2018, Villa boss Unai Emery has won his past three against the Blues without conceding a goal.

• Chelsea have won just one of their past eight Premier League games outside of London, with that victory coming at Luton Town in December.

• Ollie Watkins has scored in his past two league games against Chelsea, though both have come at Stamford Bridge. No Aston Villa player has scored in three in a row against the Blues in the competition.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Wednesday night's four Premier League fixtures as well as the goals from Tuesday's game.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Mauricio Pochettino's future as manager is in the balance and could depend on whether he can achieve European qualification for next season. (Times- subscription required), external

Chelsea may be open to offers from Saudi Arabia for 29-year-old England forward Raheem Sterling, while 25-year-old Spain defender Marc Cucurella could be sold. (Telegraph - subscription), external

Meanwhile, Tottenham are well-placed to sign 24-year-old England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea this summer, despite interest from Newcastle United. (Football Insider), external

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is close to joining Paris Saint-Germain, but the 25-year-old Nigeria forward has also drawn interest from Chelsea. (Il Mattino - in Italian), external

Meanwhile, Newcastle are set to sign 19-year-old Chelsea academy graduate and England Under-21 defender Lewis Hall on a permanent deal in the summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more news? Read Thursday's full gossip column