Chelsea players formed a huddle around the centre circle to delay the start to the second half of their clash with Aston Villa.
Villa, who were 2-1 down at the time, were due to kick-off the second period.
Aston Villa's players couldn't get anywhere near the ball as they looked to take centre against Chelsea
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Aston Villa's players couldn't get anywhere near the ball as they looked to take centre against Chelsea
However, 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.
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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 chimed in: "That Chelsea huddle is performative."
Aston Villa players rage at Chelsea team talk in centre circle
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Watkins looked particularly animated as he protested against Chelsea's cheeky tacticCredit: TNT Sports
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.
Joao Pedro's double either side of Watkins' equaliser put the Blues 2-1 up at the interval.
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.
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