Tuchel admits Aubameyang has ‘a problem with his time’ as Chelsea get ‘big package’

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was “always positive and he never missed training” during his time at Borussia Dortmund, according to Thomas Tuchel.

The Gabon international sealed a deadline day move to Stamford Bridge after Barcelona allowed him to leave the Camp Nou just six months into his contract there.

Aubameyang left Arsenal in controversial circumstances after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta stripped him of the captaincy and made him train alone following a number of disciplinary issues.

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Chelsea boss Tuchel has worked with Aubameyang before at Dortmund and he has no worries about his behaviour, backing him to be a success at Stamford Bridge.

On signing Aubameyang on deadline day, Tuchel told reporters: “Hopefully he can be that good again, we know what we get and he was keen to get back to the Premier League and we are happy to make it happen. He delivers goals and speed and work rate against the ball so it’s a big package he can bring to our group.

“At the moment he cannot train and we need to get him a mask to protect his jaw and then we can start from next week.”

After reporters raised his history of ill-discipline, Tuchel added on their time together at Dortmund: “There was nothing big. He has a bit of a problem with his time but he never missed a meeting. Sometimes in the 60 minutes before training it is a struggle for him and it may be 59 or 58 minutes.

“He was always positive and he never missed training, he was always happy and in a good state of mind and it impacts the group in a positive way, this is how I remember Auba and this is what we expect from him.”

Chelsea have had a mixed start to the new Premier League season with the Blues suffering their second loss of the campaign against Southampton in midweek.

But Tuchel is confident his players “will show a reaction” and claims that “from now we will see our strength”.

Tuchel continued: “If we don’t get tough, we will be punished in the Premier League. We will show a reaction. It’s proven we can do it with this group so we need to find the right spirit and attitude in all of the matches.

“It includes me and my staff and all of the team. We are now using all of the momentum we have with the players in our squad and from now we will see our strength.”