Chelsea FC boss Thomas Tuchel delivers damning Aubameyang verdict for Arsenal: ‘He can’t do it alone’

Aubameyang and Tuchel celebrate Dortmund’s DFB Cup Final win in 2017
Bongarts/Getty Images

Thomas Tuchel claims Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang needed to be in a “top squad” to win the trophies his talent deserves. 

Ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Arsenal on Wednesday, the German has revealed his admiration for the Gunners striker, who he managed at Borussia Dortmund

Tuchel revealed he remains in contact with Aubameyang, who is facing the prospect of missing out on Europe with Arsenal this season – and has just one FA Cup to show for his three years at the Emirates.

Asked if he expected the 31-year-old to win more in his career, the Chelsea manager said: “Yeah, because he is a winner, he is a winner. We won the cup together in Dortmund. 

“I never had a feeling that he lacks a certain of edge of mentality when you want to win stuff.

“But clearly he cannot do it alone and he also needs a top squad to play in to compete for the highest level.

“But I can just say that my experiences with Auba, for two years, you could push him to the limit and he was always up for a challenge, always open to the next step, always open to stay hungry, was never lazy, never satisfied with one goal, two goals, always going for a third. 

“He always looked to the next game, to reach the next level and so I had a strong feeling that he is a real winner and you can rely on him.

“He was the top goalscorer in the Premier league because I was in Germany. It’s quite the career that he had. I absolutely don’t want to speak about his time in Arsenal because that would not be correct.”

Aubameyang has endured a difficult season at Arsenal, but still has 15 goals in all competitions to underline the quality that still remains. 

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Tuchel also gave an insight into his man-management of the striker – including deliberately telling him the wrong time for team meetings at Dortmund. 

“I think he did not miss one single training in two years,” he added. “Maybe he arrived five minutes late on the training ground, that can happen with him! But if he does this, he is in a hurry, he excuses, he feels sorry, he has still a smile on his face. 

“He was pretty much the only one, so when we wanted him to be on time, we told him the meeting was 10.45am when the meeting was 11am so there was a good chance he would be there with everyone else.

“You could hear the car from far away. You could hear him from a kilometre away, we could prepare everything, start the video because he will arrive soon!

“I don’t know and I still don’t know how he managed to keep the driving licence in his pocket because from the sound of the car, I don’t know if he was always on the speed limit.

“That’s him. It’s hard to be really mad with the guy because he comes with a big smile, he has a big heart and gives an excuse to everybody and you could accept to have one or two guys like this in the team.

“It’s not the biggest problem. But don’t forget that he was also a top, top professional who never missed any training session, never sneaked off the training pitch one minute early or the opposite because he was always dressed and ready for training.”

Tuchel added: “We still are in touch from time to time and exchange messages when some of us has a big win. In some way, he will still always be my player and feels like he will always be my player, so you want him to succeed and have a good time wherever they are.”

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