Aubameyang treatment blamed for Potter sacking

Stuart Telford

• 4 Apr 2023 19:02 BST
• 3 min read

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's treatment at Chelsea was key to Graham Potter's sacking according to former Nigeria striker Victor Ikpeba.

Potter was dismissed on Sunday following a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa that left the Blues 11th in the table, as close to the relegation zone as the European places.

Todd Boehly has spent big since replacing Roman Abramovich last May, and €330 million of his €600m outlay on players since was spent in January, with Potter's feet under the desk as head coach.

READ: The EMBARRASSING treatment of Chelsea players under Potter

Aubameyang had arrived as a €12m signing last summer, the former Arsenal captain a player Potter's predecessor Tuchel had wanted to sign following their time together at Borussia Dortmund. But their reunion lasted less than an hour of football.

Aubameyang has started just four Premier League games since, while Kai Havertz - a midfielder by trade - has led the line. With Romelu Lukaku back out on loan at Inter Milan, former Nigeria striker Ikpeba thinks Potter missed a trick.

Ikpeba: 'you can't win games without strikers'

"The truth of the matter is that I don't know why he doesn't have faith in Aubameyang," he told All Nigeria Soccer. "You can't win games without strikers. There are no strikers in this Chelsea side.

"You have a lot of attacking players in the team. Joao Felix who came from Atletico Madrid, you can't question his creativity but he's not a player that can score two digits goals for you. They just bought these players from everywhere."

READ: Aubameyang vs Potter & five Chelsea stars who fell out with their manager

Another manager may be tempted to give Aubameyang a chance, but it seems the player himself has already checked out.

Barcelona - whom he scored 13 goals for last season - tried to re-sign him in the January transfer window, but La Liga rules stopped them from registering the same player twice in the same season.

Aubameyang has since been picture celebrating Barca's Clasico victory over Real Madrid in the bowels of Camp Nou, and the odds are shortning on a summer return.