Graham Potter explains why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was absent from his Chelsea squad

Graham Potter uncovers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s nonattendance from Chelsea’s FA Cup squad was because of a ‘back issue‘… not because of his dreary Premier League execution on Thursday

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has expressed a back injury kept Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from playing in his side’s FA Cup rout to Manchester City.

Chelsea experienced their second misfortune to City in four days, having lost 1-0 in the Premier League on Thursday and 4-0 at the Etihad Arena on Sunday evening.

Fans had addressed whether Aubameyang’s dreary presentation on Thursday was the motivation behind why he was rejected from Potter’s team on Sunday. Notwithstanding, the Chelsea boss put any misinformation to rest.

Aubameyang began Chelsea’s tie against City on the seat however advanced onto the pitch after only five minutes as Raheem Real was constrained off harmed.

Notwithstanding, Potter was not exactly dazzled with the 33-year-old’s exhibition and chosen to replace him with Omari Hutchinson in the last part.

Fans took to online entertainment after the game to address whether Aubameyang could at any point show up in a Chelsea shirt once more.

In this way, individuals started to talk when Aubameyang’s name was absent from the team-sheet on Sunday evening.

However, Potter has squashed any potential rumours by explaining how the striker had missed the game due to a back injury. 

Speaking after the game, Potter said: ‘Auba felt pain in his back ahead of this one. ‘Christian [Pulisic] just opened up his knee in the game the other day, we’re still analysing it but it’s going to be weeks for him. 

‘Raheem [Sterling] had an action in the first minute of the game, he felt something in his hamstring, and we’re still analysing that, no timescale yet.’ 

Aubameyang will have been disappointed to have missed the game given Chelsea’s FA Cup run has come to an end. 

The Blues were dumped out of the competition due to a brace from Riyad Mahrez and goals by Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez. 

Chelsea fans were less than impressed after the game and chanted for Thomas Tuchel and Roman Abramovich to return. 

Potter – who took over in September after Tuchel’s sacking – admitted that he can sympathise with Chelsea’s fans.

‘Clearly we are suffering and it’s not nice at all,’ Potter said. ‘We can’t do anything other than do our jobs better and work harder.

‘You can understand the fans’ frustration and we respect that. There are always other opinions and criticism because results haven’t been positive.

‘We’re going through a bad moment and sometimes when you have them you need something to blame. We have to stick together and keep working.’

Graham Potter explains why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was absent from his Chelsea squad