Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Chelsea debut was the 'worst game of my life'

Evening Standard

·7 January 2025

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Chelsea debut was the 'worst game of my life'

The former Blues striker has reflected on a chaotic year at Stamford Bridge

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has described his Chelsea debut was the “worst game of my life” as he’s opened up on the “mess” at the club upon his arrival.

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The former Arsenal striker returned to England in the summer of 2022 in a reported £10.3million transfer from Barcelona, just over six months after departing the Emirates Stadium via mutual consent following a falling out with Mikel Arteta.

Reunited with Thomas Tuchel, whom Aubameyang thrived under during their time together at Borussia Dortmund, although the reunion didn’t last long as the German tactician was sacked five days later.

In fact, the Gabon international, who now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Qadsiah, started Tuchel’s final game in charge of Chelsea which was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League fixture from the 2022/23 season.

And Aubameyang’s memories of that game are quite negative after ignoring medical advice to play.

“When you arrive somewhere (new), you want to show straight away you’re involved,” he said in an interview with The Athletic. “It was the worst game of my life, but I did it because I had to play.

“I remember that day because I didn’t recognise him (Tuchel). It was not the guy I knew a few years ago. We had a close relationship.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sporting a face mask on his Chelsea debut.

AFP via Getty Images

“He was the only guy who really understood me in Dortmund. At Chelsea, it was like something was wrong. I felt he was not enjoying his time.

“We lost and he was p**sed off. Usually, he would go crazy but he came to the dressing room and then left. I was like, “This is not the guy I know. Very strange”. The next day, he was sacked.”

Much has changed at Stamford Bridge since both Aubameyang and Tuchel’s departures, a far cry from the ‘mess’ the club was in a couple of years ago.

“They did a mess,” Aubameyang added. “It didn’t even look like a football dressing room, it was more like rugby. Hakim Ziyech, Denis Zakaria, Kalidou Koulibaly, Romelu Lukaku… It was good I wasn’t alone. We were laughing every day, so it was OK.

Brief: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Thomas Tuchel’s reunion at Chelsea lasted all of five days.

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

“I never had that connection. No connections at all. The fans wanted the Auba they saw with Arsenal. At the time, I was not ready for that and didn’t get the opportunity. I was not ready, as well, because of what happened in Barcelona.

“It was a chaotic year but it was good for me because I needed a break and, at the same time, they didn’t want to play me.”