Chelsea signed seven newcomers in January for the second half of the season – eight if you add Malo Gusto (19), who will end the season at Olympique Lyon. The Blues are only allowed to call up three of these players for the knockout games in the Champions League and, of course, previously seeded players have to give way for the trio. So it was clear that someone would lose out at Stamford Bridge.
Since yesterday, Friday, it has been confirmed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, among others, was hit. In the group stage of the premier class, the 33-year-old striker played in all six games and scored two goals. Now he is no longer part of the squad.
Off to Milan
As expected, the Gabonese took the news of his ejection far from well. “Shocked and Disappointed” Aubameyang has responded, according to a report in The Telegraph. Sources close to the player are convinced that Chelsea want to oust the striker from the club. In the summer, the Blues paid twelve million euros to FC Barcelona.
In order to digest his disappointment, Aubameyang has made off for the time being. Aubameyang was no longer in London during the disappointing 0-0 draw against Fulham on Friday evening. Instead, he made a trip to Milan.
Powder Keg Chelsea?
Chelsea manager Graham Potter tried to smooth things over at yesterday’s press conference: “He trained really well on Friday morning and we gave him the weekend off. It’s a free world.”
So all good at Stamford Bridge? That remains to be seen. Because Aubameyang has shown in the past that he is quite capable of causing unrest in his club with controversial actions. At Borussia Dortmund he once stayed away from training, at Arsenal he fell out with coach Mikel Arteta, among others. Incidentally, the 33-year-old is still tied to Chelsea until 2024. Stand now seems unlikely that he will stay that long.
