Graham Potter reveals why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was absent from his Chelsea squad

Chelsea manager Graham Potter said a back injury prevented Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from playing in his team’s FA Cup loss to Manchester City.

Chelsea suffered their second loss to City in four days, having lost 1-0 in the Premier League on Thursday and 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Fans wondered if Aubameyang’s dismal performance on Thursday was the reason he was cut from Potter’s squad on Sunday. However, the Chelsea manager made things clear.

Graham Potter has said a back injury prevented Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from playing in his team’s FA Cup loss to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Chelsea suffered their second loss to Manchester City in four days, losing 4-0 in the FA Cup

Aubameyang started Chelsea’s draw against City on the bench, but came onto the pitch after five minutes when Raheem Sterling had to go off with an injury.

However, Potter was less than impressed with the 33-year-old’s performance and decided to replace him with Omari Hutchinson in the second half.

Fans took to social media after the match to question whether Aubameyang would appear in a Chelsea shirt again.

Therefore, people started talking when Aubameyang’s name was not on the team sheet on Sunday afternoon.

Fans questioned whether Aubameyang’s dismal performance on Thursday (pictured during the game above) was the reason he was cut from Potter’s squad on Sunday.

Aubameyang started Chelsea’s Premier League tie against Manchester City on the bench, but came on after five minutes when Raheem Sterling had to go off with an injury.

However, Potter squashed any possible rumors by explaining how the striker had missed the game due to a back injury.

Speaking after the game, Potter said: ‘Auba had pain in her back before this one. ‘Christian [Pulisic] he just opened his knee in the game the other day, we’re still looking at it, but it’s going to be weeks for him.

rahim [Sterling] he had an action in the first minute of the game, he felt something in his hamstring, and we’re still looking at that, there’s no timescale yet.

However, the Chelsea manager was not impressed with the 33-year-old’s performance.

Therefore, Potter decided to replace him with Omari Hutchinson in the second half.

Aubameyang will have been disappointed to have missed the match as Chelsea’s FA Cup run has come to an end.

The Blues were knocked out of the competition due to a brace from Riyad Mahrez and goals from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez.

Chelsea fans were less than impressed after the match and chanted for Thomas Tuchel and Roman Abramovich to return.

Potter, who took over in September after Tuchel’s sacking, has admitted he can sympathize with Chelsea fans.

Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday thanks to a brace from Riyad Mahrez and goals from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez.

Speaking after the game, Potter said the team is ‘suffering’ but insisted they would work harder.

“Clearly we are in pain and it is not pleasant at all,” Potter said. ‘We can’t do anything but do our job better and work harder.

‘You can understand the frustration of the fans and we respect that. There are always other opinions and criticisms because the results have not been positive.

‘We’re going through a bad time and sometimes when you have them you need something to blame it on. We have to stick together and keep working.’