Mauricio Pochettino blames VAR after chastising Chelsea for their meek display against Newcastle

Chelsea are top of the league for yellow cards, with 44 in just 13 games, but got bullied in a 4-1 defeat St James' Park, leaving former Argentina enforcer Pochettino enraged.

He roasted his team in the dressing room after the game in a bid to provoke a reaction ahead of tomorrow's clash with Brighton, but reckons the extra scrutiny of VAR has drained the aggression from the modern player, and not just in matches.

The Blues boss said: 'Football has changed a lot from my period. It was different. There wasn't VAR. We competed in a different way. Today, it makes you compete in a different way.

'Before, if I punch or kick someone when the ball was over there, if the referee didn't see me... there wasn't a VAR.

'Now, if the ball is over there and I kick someone or punch someone there are 200 cameras watching everything. And boom! Red card.

'And... you cannot behave like this in training. You cannot show this type of aggression. That is why players are different now. I think that is a big worry. It is tough.'

Source: Dailymail