Graham Potter hints that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could end his EXILE at Chelsea and play Tottenham this weekend…
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not played for Chelsea in recent weeks
- Graham Potter hinted he could be selected this weekend against Tottenham
- The striker has struggled since joining the club last summer from Barcelona
Graham Potter has hinted that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could return to the Chelsea squad for this weekend’s clash with Tottenham.
The 33-year-old Gabonese international has missed out on the squad’s last three Premier League squads despite significant goalscoring problems that have seen him score just four times in all competitions this year.
Having been signed late last summer by Potter’s predecessor Thomas Tuchel, Aubameyang struggled to revitalize his England career and his time at Chelsea hit an all-time low when he was left out of the Champions League squad in late January. . .
However, asked about the prospect of Aubameyang returning to the fold this weekend, Potter said he was “available for selection”.
“He is fighting for a spot on the squad. Good answer to the situation we are in. He’s available for selection,’ the Chelsea boss said under pressure.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be in line for a return to the Chelsea squad this weekend
He found himself frozen over being left out of Chelsea’s Champions League squad
The former Arsenal striker trained on Friday ahead of the Tottenham clash.
Aubameyang’s Chelsea situation has seemingly only increased the pressure on the former Brighton manager, with Potter coming under increasing scrutiny amid a run of disastrous results for his side.
Chelsea have scored just four times in all competitions this year, while they have scored just 23 times in as many Premier League games across the campaign.
One of the accusations leveled at Potter during his time at Brighton was that his team were perfect until the final third, when they faltered and struggled to get the ball into the back of the net.
The 1-0 defeat to Southampton at the weekend looked to be a true sliding-door moment for Potter and the club, with supporters apparently turning against the manager.
Asked about this at his pre-Tottenham press conference on Friday, Potter revealed that he and his family have received death threats this week.
‘You have to accept the situation as it is, accept the criticism, but don’t get carried away with incorrect things. Try to have perspective, but at the same time acknowledge criticism and bad feelings. That’s how it should be.
‘It’s a challenge and if you go to work and someone is calling you names, it’s not going to be pleasant.’
‘The world is tough for everyone,’ added Potter. ‘We are going through an energy crisis, a cost of living crisis, people are on strike every two weeks.’
“Nobody wants to hear about the poor Premier League manager. However, if you ask me, “Is it difficult? It is difficult? Is good to hear that?” as much as I have support, I have received some not particularly nice emails that want me dead and my kids to die. This is obviously not a pleasant thing to receive.
Potter also revealed that he and his family have received death threats from Chelsea ‘supporters’
‘You get upset when you’re in private with your family. My job is to act as I think I should act in the best way for the team and the club, and act with integrity.
‘I never want to be someone else. I don’t want to be fake. I’ll be me and I’ll do my best and if my best isn’t good enough, OK, I’ll take that.’
Ahead of Sunday’s game, which has been billed as a clash that could decide the future of the two managers involved, with Antonio Conte at Tottenham not in an ideal position, Potter admitted he was aware of the gravity of Chelsea’s current situation.
‘If you are referred to as ‘the worst person in the history of the club’ you can say ‘I don’t care’ but everyone cares what people think. I want to be successful here, so it’s absurd to think I don’t care,” he said.