Izuchukwu Okosi
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is excited about the prospect of his former player at Borussia Dortmund Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring crucial goals for Chelsea and on Friday spoke to the media on his club’s transfer activities on deadline day on Thursday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelTuchel highlighted extensively the return of former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the Premier League when he spoke at his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against West Ham United.
“Hopefully he can be that good again, we know what we get and he was keen to get back to the Premier League and we are happy to make it happen.
“He delivers goals and speed and work rate against the ball so it’s a big package he can bring to our group.
“At the moment he cannot train and we need to get him a mask to protect his jaw and then we can start from next week,” Tuchel hinted in reference to the armed attack on the player by armed men in Spain that left him with an injured jaw.
On reports of Aubameyang’s ill-discipline at Arsenal, Tuchel spoke about their time together at Borussia Dortmund:
“There was nothing big. He has a bit of a problem with his time but he never missed a meeting. Sometimes in the 60 minutes before training it is a struggle for him and it may be 59 or 58 minutes.
“He was always positive and he never missed training, he was always happy and in a good state of mind and it impacts the group in a positive way, this is how I remember Auba and this is what we expect from him,” the German tactician stressed.
On his part, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also expressed his thoughts on Aubameyang going to Chelsea: “I’m sure he’s made that decision because he wants to change again and find best possible move for his future.
“We wish him the best of luck,” the Spaniard who had a bitter spat with the Gabon striker leading to his January exit and eventual signing for Barcelona said.
Aubameyang has been handed the jersey number 9 which has been considered by many as jinxed with many of the former players who donned the number failing to live up to expectations.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
