Chelsea boss Graham Potter has insisted that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a future at the club despite leaving the striker out of his squad for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has failed to impress since joining from Barcelona last summer and it seems unlikely he will be at Chelsea next season.
Potter believes Aubameyang can still contribute
The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker was shocked by Potter’s decision to omit him from his Champions League squad.
Joao Felix, Kai Havertz, Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana were named as the forward options and there have been suggestions he could join LAFC on a short-term loan.
Doubts have grown over whether Aubameyang, who was also absent for Chelsea’s goalless draw with Fulham in the Premier League last week, fits into Potter’s style.
However, Auba now has a chance of being involved for Saturday’s trip to West Ham. The 33-year-old has been back in training this week and his attitude has impressed Potter, who stressed that Aubameyang was not in a “terminal” situation.
“In my job every player while they are here is important,” Potter said.
“Every player should understand their situation and be treated with respect and then it’s their decision how to act and he has acted fantastically. He really has.
“We have got Joao, we have Kai, we have got David. We thought we wanted to get more of a look at them in the short term. But that’s not to say it’s a terminal situation for Pierre.
We had to be honest with him and give him time. That was why he was out of the previous match. But while he is here it’s not to say that will always be the case.”
Big picture for Chelsea
Aubameyang has been largely disappointing this season, scoring only three goals for Chelsea, who have struggled in the final third.
There could be an opportunity for him against West Ham to really stake his claim for more involvement as the season reaches its crucial stages.
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