Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made a controversial move to Chelsea in 2022 after leaving Barcelona but his time at Stamford Bridge was an absolute disaster
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's time at Chelsea was a disaster
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has branded his disastrous spell with Chelsea as a “big f****** mistake”. The former Arsenal man made the controversial decision to move to Stamford Bridge in 2022 under the Blues’ new ownership.
Having scored 92 goals across 163 appearances in North London, big things were expected of the Gabonese as a Chelsea player - particularly after being given the number nine shirt. But Aubameyang failed to hit those heights with the Blues following a brief stint at Barcelona.
He scored just three times across a woeful debut season and ended up being sold to French side Marseille after less than a year on the books at Stamford Bridge. And speaking on a YouTube stream, Aubameyang said: "That was a big mistake going there. It was a f****** big mistake."
Asked why he decided to sign for Chelsea, he added: "At that time, I had a bad moment in Barcelona. I had a home break-in and Barça needed to sell a player -- me or Memphis Depay -- and the only thing that was on the table was Chelsea.
"So I said, 'OK, for my family, I will move away, even if it's Chelsea.' I was thinking maybe it will be OK, Olivier Giroud went from Arsenal to Chelsea and he had no problems. But for me it was different."
Aubameyang’s latest comments are not the first time that he has decided to open up on his switch to West London. Speaking after moving to Marseille, he suggested that the managerial overhaul and disorganisation behind the scenes contributed to his move being a disaster.
"I think it's simple to explain," he said. "The manner in which I was received by both the players and the staff, at Chelsea, the context was a bit different. Because I arrived at Chelsea in no small part due to Thomas Tuchel, and a week later, he had been sacked.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored just three goals for Chelsea
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“So the two contexts were not at all similar, it was not easy for me, and that had an influence," Aubameyang continued. "From there I basically didn’t play anymore. And then later there were problems of a different nature that were not my fault.”
Aubameyang found much more success with Marseille after leaving Chelsea. He scored 30 goals across 51 appearances in France before electing to make the move to Saudi side Al-Qadsiah.
The now 36-year-old netted 21 times in the Middle East before he chose to rejoin Marseille, where he has five goals in 14 appearances this season.
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