Graham Potter has explained the decision-making behind leaving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of Chelsea's Champions League squad for the knockout stages. The striker was excluded to allow for three of the club’s January signings to be registered.
Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix were the trio named in the squad looking to lead the Blues to their third European title following Todd Boehly's mass January spending. The US billionaire spent close to £300million on reinforcements to Graham Potter's squad in a late bid to secure a top four finish this term.
Chelsea currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, nine points off the Champions League places. However, a successful knockout campaign in Europe can secure their place in the competition next season and preparation has already kickstarted for the first encounter against Borussia Dortmund.
