Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Could Make Chelsea Debut Despite Broken Jaw
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang despite suffering a fractured jaw during a home invasion, could make his Chelsea debut in Tuesday’s Champions League group game against Dinamo Zagreb.
Chelsea made a last-minute move for Aubameyang, signing him on a two-year contract from Barcelona just months after he left Arsenal. The 33-year-old was absent from Chelsea’s 2-1 win over West Ham on Saturday but has traveled to Croatia with the squad.
“Auba is very ambitious, he’s very focused and he’s hungry to play for us, and he is hungry to prove a point. That’s why he’s here,” Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel told reporters on Monday.
Aubameyang will be fitted with a custom-made mask to protect his broken jaw, which was broken during an attack on his home near Barcelona by a group of four men who broke into his home and threatened him with firearms.
“If an issue comes up with the mask today we will not put him in of course, but there was no issue for him yesterday and I hope there will not be an issue today,” said Tuchel.
“If he is ready to start he cannot play 90 minutes so it is on us to take a decision how we manage the minutes.
“That he needs minutes to get his full fitness is clear so it’s on us to find the solution if he is on the bench or if he starts.”
Denis Zakaria of Switzerland is also set to make his debut for Chelsea after joining on loan from Juventus.
N’Golo Kante, on the other hand, is still out with a hamstring injury, and veteran center-back Thiago Silva has been rested for the trip.
π¨ N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva have not travelled with the Chelsea squad to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb.
β Denis Zakaria and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have both travelled and have a chance to make their debuts#cfc
“We decided with Thiago that he will have a break from travelling and from the stress after he has played every minute so far in very intense matches,” explained Tuchel.
“It was the moment to give him a break instead of putting him on the bench and he has to travel. He can take care of his recovery.”
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