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.
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The decision to include Mudryk, Fernandez and Felix meant there was no space for Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke. Prior to the eight new arrivals, Chelsea had already filled 24 of the 25-man squad. Jorginho's £12m move to Arsenal opened up a space but Potter was forced to make a number of difficult decisions prior to Friday's deadline.
Aubameyang was the unfortunate figure to be removed to accommodate the three new names amid severe doubts over his future in west London. The former Arsenal striker has struggled for form since moving to Chelsea in the summer and has managed only three goals in 19 appearances.
The 33-year-old's future was further debated on Friday evening when he was left out of Potter's squad to face Fulham. New signing David Datro Fofana was opted instead and made his Premier League debut in the stalemate.
After the game, Potter was quizzed on his decision to exclude Aubameyang and the Chelsea boss squashed rumours that the forward had left London for Milan out of spite.
"I don't think it's going to be difficult because Pierre is a professional and of course, I understand he will be disappointed," Potter said. "It was a tough decision, a tough call. We had three in and two had to go out. He was the one that missed out, he's done nothing wrong at all.
"We wanted to give David some game time today to see where he's at and give him that opportunity. I think you saw that one flash that's he got. Pierre is just unfortunate and he will be fighting for his place for the rest of the season.
"Whichever decision we made there was always going to be a conversation about it but it was my decision. It was a tough decision absolutely, sometimes you have to make these calls but it's absolutely nothing bad against him. He's done nothing wrong at all."
During Chelsea's Premier League clash with Fulham, footage surfaced online of Aubameyang in Milan, sparking claims that the striker had left the country after being left out of the squad. However, Potter was quick to rule the rumours out. "He trained today, he trained very well and he's got the weekend off so we can report on Monday. It's a free world."
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