Chelsea owners “assure Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang he has a role to play for the club” despite Thomas Tuchel being sacked after the £10million striker left Barcelona to join his former manager at Borussia Dortmund
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed his move to Chelsea on the deadline day
- He played 59 minutes of their Champions League game with Dinamo Zagreb
- But that was Thomas Tuchel’s last game as Chelsea manager
- Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has reportedly reassured Aubameyang about his role
- Tuchel and Aubameyang worked together successfully in Dortmund
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang “was assured that he was not signed just to please former manager Thomas Tuchel and that he has a role to play at Chelsea.”
Chelsea completed the £10.3million signing of the Barcelona striker on transfer deadline day last week, reuniting him with Tuchel following their collaboration at Borussia Dortmund.
Aubameyang, 33, had been looking forward to working with Tuchel again but the German was sacked on Wednesday following the Champions League defeat by Dinamo Zagreb.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was reunited with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea – but only briefly
The pair worked productively together at Borussia Dortmund and Aubameyang had expected to work under Tuchel again when he joined Chelsea
The Gabonese international played 59 minutes in Croatia before being replaced in charge by Armando Broja in Tuchel’s last game.
Although Tuchel’s quick departure prompted criticism of the new Chelsea ownership, the Daily Telegraph reports that the player has been reassured and is looking forward to playing under new manager Graham Potter.
While co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali spoke to the Chelsea squad following Tuchel’s sacking, Aubameyang was also called personally to explain the situation.
Of course, Aubameyang had expected Tuchel to be his manager at Stamford Bridge and that was a factor in the decision to return to Premier League football.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has reportedly reassured Aubameyang (right) he will still play
Brighton manager Graham Potter is set to become Tuchel’s replacement at Chelsea
Aubameyang played 59 minutes in his Chelsea debut in the 1-0 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb
The Telegraph said Aubameyang was reassured by the Chelsea owners’ statement and believed the club wanted him despite knowing that Tuchel was likely to be fired.
Potter will be in dugout for the Premier League trip to Fulham on Saturday, with Aubameyang likely to appear with a protective face mask after injuries sustained in a violent robbery at his family home in Barcelona last week.
It is hoped that Aubameyang will be able to play without a mask in a week or two.
