Mauricio Pochettino blames VAR for draining the aggression from modern footballers – as he claims ‘it makes you compete in a different way’… and says he told his Chelsea players ‘the truth’ after chastising them for their meek display against Newcastle
- Mauricio Pochettino has blamed VAR for taking away his players' aggression
- He also admitted to punishing his players after their defeat to Newcastle
- We expected perfection from the VAR, but we don't have it: listen to it It all starts
Mauricio Pochettino says VAR is to blame for his players not being able to be more aggressive after punishing them for his meek display when he was thrashed at Newcastle last week.
Chelsea top the league for yellow cards, with 44 in just thirteen games, but were bullied in the 4-1 defeat at St. James' Park, infuriating former Argentina enforcer Pochettino.
He roasted his team in the dressing room after the match in an attempt to provoke a reaction ahead of tomorrow's match with Brighton, but believes the extra scrutiny of VAR has taken the edge off the modern player's aggression, and not just in matches .
The Blues boss said: “Football has changed a lot from my time there. It was different. There was no VAR. We fought in a different way. Today it lets you compete in a different way.
'Before, if I hit or kicked someone when the ball was there, and the referee didn't see me… there was no VAR.
Mauricio Pochettino believes VAR is responsible for his players' lack of aggression in games
The Chelsea manager claimed that having the video referee system hanging over his players' heads 'allows footballers to compete in a different way'
Chelsea also top the Premier League for collecting the most yellow cards this season
'If the ball is there and I kick or hit someone, 200 cameras keep an eye on everything. And boom! Red card.
“And… you can't behave like that during training. You can't show this kind of aggression. That's why players are different now. I think that's a big concern. It is difficult.'
Pochettino warned his players that he won't take action if he turns on the hairdryer, and that they can expect many more outbursts if Chelsea's poor form continues.
“I'm not an actor,” he said. 'I can't act. I can't come here and tell myself to smile when I don't feel happy.
They suffered a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle this weekend, with Pochettino putting the hairdryer on his players after the match
The Blues manager said he was 'not happy' and added that although his coaching staff were 'harsh in their analysis' they were 'telling the truth'
'I'm not happy after the last game and we know we have to perform to regain the points we lost against Newcastle.
'Do I like it when my players are angry? Yes of course. I like it when they challenge me. I like it. Sometimes I push them to see the reaction.
'We were strict in our analysis, but we told the truth. It's to show what we haven't done. But it's not to blame them, it's to blame everyone, ourselves first.
'Maybe our approach (as coaches) wasn't good. So maybe we should pay attention to it so that we can approach it differently in the future.'