Tuchel: 'I feel sorry for Aubemayang'

Aubameyang, injured Chelsea players, transfer news, contract situations with Ruddiger, Christiansen and co. Covid vaccines…those were the topics of conversation between Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel and English press before the Everton match. A win against Toffies could bring Chelsea closer to the first placed Manchester City. And a win is a must, not only because the Blues need to keep up with Liverpool, who is facing an easy task with Newcastle, but also because the opponent is not that tough at all. Everton has only one win in the last 10 games and experienced coach Rafa Benitez is under huge pressure.

But German didn’t talk about Everton at all, because of one simple reason – no one asked him. Out of 11 questions at the press conference, nobody was interested to know what the German thinks about the upcoming game with Everton. Instead, the press asked him about his formal player who was stripped of Arsenal's captaincy, and Thomas Tuchel admitted that he is sorry for Aubameyang and that he will call him soon.

“I will, I will at some point. But, you know, I don’t want to also disturb him. I think he was a very important player for me and we had a very close relationship until today. When we meet it’s still always very, very nice. I can only say the best things about Auba as a player and as a person. I feel sorry for him that he’s in trouble. This is not where he should be with his kind of quality and the positive character that he has – and I still believe in that. But I’m not involved, and I’m not involved in what’s going on at his club now, and for this I also want to show my respect to Arsenal and not be involved and not judge what is right and wrong. I just have my picture and my relationship with Auba and this is not affected by that” said Tuchel when asked about his former player. Tuchel announced that both Kante and Chalobah will start the match from the bench while Mateo Kovacic and Ben Chilwell are still out due to Covid/injury issues.

This is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – not the Arsenal captain

And the Toffies are in permanent crisis since Rafa Benitez took over as a coach. The fans are furious with club’s poor recruitment decisions over the last couple of years, there was no money to spent this August, they lost Carlo Ancelotti and got former Liverpool manager instead so the atmosphere at Goodison Park is toxic at the moment. Rafa Benitez is also unlucky with injuries and can face another heavy defeat. Everton wasn’t very good at Stamford Bridge in recent years, even with different managers. Memories of a 4-0 drubbing under Carlo Ancelotti and a 5-0 reverse under Ronald Koeman are still very fresh in the memory. But, the Spaniard thinks he has a winning formula for Chelsea and he doesn’t want to reveal it.

"Be sure that we go there with the idea to win the game. When I say that, I don't want people taking advantage of that and saying 'on the front foot if you want to win. Sometimes you have to win in the counter-attack. Nobody can expect that we will go there and have 70% possession, it will be impossible. These 15 games have proven that it's like that. We have to have a plan to get the best from our players and take advantage of the weaknesses of Chelsea, which are not too many" said Rafa.

PREMIER LEAGUE - Round 17

Tuesday

Norwich - Aston Villa 0- (0-1)

/Ramsey 34, Watkins 87/

Man.City - Leeds 7-0 (3-0)

/Foden 8, Grealish 13, De Bruyne 32, 62, Mahrez 49, Stones 74, Ake 78/

Wednesday

Crystal Palace - Southampton 2-2 (1-2)

/Zaha 2, Ayew 65 - Ward-Prowse 32, Broja 36/

Brighton and Hove Albion - Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 (0-1)

/Saiss 45+1/

Arsenal - West Ham United 2-0 (0-0)

/Martinelli 48, Smith Rowe 87/

Thursday

22.30: (2.25) Leicester (3.50) Tottenham (3.35)

22.45: (1.30) Chelsea (5.80) Everton (12.0)

23.00: (1.15) Liverpool (10.0) Newcastle (18.0)

***odds are subjecto to change