CAHILL SO OFF ABOUT FIRST GOAL

GARY CAHILL has branded the offside law “the maddest rule I have ever seen.” Chelsea were baffled that the controversial FA Cup final goal that derailed their Double bid was given. Alexis Sanchez’s fourth-minute opener for Arsenal was allowed to stand despite two infringements in the build-up. Sanchez blocked David Luiz’s attempted clearance with his hands above his head. And before the onside Chilean raced on to the loose ball to fire past Thibaut Courtois, eventual match-winner Aaron Ramsey, who was offside, appeared to try to play the ball. Assistant referee Gary Beswick flagged, deeming Ramsey was interfering with play. But referee Anthony Taylor overruled him as Ramsey didn’t touch the ball. Cahill said: “That offside rule is crazy. You can look to go to the ball and veer off and then not be offside. It is the maddest rule I have seen. “If he is not there, and it does not affect things, then maybe Thibaut comes out and grabs the ball.” Cahill claimed the officials’ failure to spot Sanchez’s handball was even more frustrating. “If that is spotted it would not get to the offside,” he said. “If he has his hands in a natural position down his side, I understand that. I understand it is difficult sometimes when the ball ricochets off and it is not his intention to do it. “But when you have both hands above your face, you are not telling me that is a natural position. “It was incredible. I spoke to the referee at half-time and he was adamant he kneed the ball through. We saw it differently.” The surprise 2-1 defeat to Arsenal denied Chelsea a league and cup double. Skipper Cahill added: “It is hard to reflect positively because we have come off the back of a defeat in the FA Cup final. It is raw. “But I am sure in a few days’ time, when I settle down and think about this season, I will realise it has been successful. “Everyone would swap the Cup for the one we have. It is hard to win the League, we have got the 30 wins in the season – no-one had done that. The 13-game winning run is the joint-highest. “It is just a shame we did not finish it off in the way we wanted.”