Aston Villa players left incensed at rare delay tactic used by Chelsea

Chelsea players formed a huddle around the centre circle to delay the start to the second half in their 4-1 victory over Aston Villa.

Villa, who were 2-1 down at the time, were due to kick-off the second period.

Unai Emery‘s side were unable to take centre immediately, as the Blues players gathered around the ball in the centre circle.

Villa’s players were visibly furious with the tactic, with both Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz seen remonstrating with referee Jarred Gillett.

This isn’t the first time Liam Rosenior‘s side have pulled this move; they were spotted doing the same just days earlier during their 2-1 defeat against Arsenal.

The reasoning behind this tactic is not yet clear, with Cole Palmer then giving the ball back to Villa get the second period underway.

‘Massive disrespect’

Many were quick to comment on Chelsea‘s outside-of-the-box thinking, which was slammed by Steve McManaman on commentary.

It divided opinion on social media, with some hailing the move as quick-thinking.

One fan wrote on X: “That’s LinkedIn-type stuff right there.”

But others were less impressed, with another calling it disrespectful, reminding others of Rosenior’s fury when the Arsenal players ventured into his side’s half in their Carabao Cup semi-final.

They commented: “Absolutely massive disrespect that second centre circle huddle. Didn’t their manager sound off about Chelsea warming up in their half?”

Another fan mocked the tactic, adding: “That Chelsea huddle is performative.”

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Rosenior’s reasoning

With Chelsea’s huddle sparking plenty of discussion, Rosenior was asked for the thought process behind his tactic after his side went on to clinch a thumping away win.

In response, he said: “People want to show unity, they want to show strength. It’s nothing to do with the opposition.

“We’re a young group and the best thing I can do is help them grow.”

Chelsea’s huddle tactic marked a less than ideal start to to the second period for Villa, who found themselves trailing in a crucial clash.

After Douglas Luiz put Villa ahead after just two minutes, Joao Pedro fired in a double to put the Blues 2-1 up at the interval.

There was no shortage of controversy in the first half, which saw two VAR calls go in Chelsea’s favour.

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Watkins thought he had put his team 2-1 ahead after finishing off a rapid counter attack, but it was ruled out after review.

The Premier League‘s semi-automated offside technology ruled that the England international had strayed narrowly offside.

Replays showed his kneecap and toes had been beyond the last Chelsea defender.

Not everyone was convinced by the call, with talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham fuming ‘I absolutely do not trust that’, in a furious reaction to the decision.

To rub salt in Villa’s wounds, the Blues took the lead after Pedro’s second goal was deemed as marginally onside following an Enzo Fernandez assist.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for Villa after kicking off the second half, with Cole Palmer making it 3-1 before Pedro completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1.

This was the Brazilian’s first-ever Premier League hat-trick, as the Blues went on to secure a vital three points.

With fifth-place likely to be the cut-off point for Champions League qualification, victory saw Chelsea move above Liverpool into fifth on goal difference, and just three points off Villa in fourth.