What is expected of a Pierre Emerick Aubameyang? Assists or goals from his feet and head of course. Therefore, Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel did not hesitate to bring him from Barcelona in the transfer window last summer. The presence of Aubameyang is expected to be a solution to their ineffective front row lately. After the departure of Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea no longer have a reliable striker. As a result, the results they got at the beginning of this competition were not satisfactory.
Tuchel as Chelsea coach is very confident that the arrival of Aubameyang will bring important changes. “He is very enthusiastic and can’t wait to play with us. He will do something,” said Tuchel about his team.
This season’s Champions League opener against Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb was the start for Aubameyang to prove his worth. This time Chelsea travel to Zagreb’s headquarters at the Maksimir stadium on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 local time.
This match feels special considering Aubameyang has been absent from the Champions League for five years. Finally, this Gabon passport player played with Borussia Dortmund in the first caste event of this European club competition.
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Aubameyang immediately started as a starter by occupying the center forward position in a 3-4-3 scheme. Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz accompanied him on the left and right.
Meanwhile, as support from the second line, Tuchel placed Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount. In addition, Reece James and Ben Chilwel were also present who were ready to help from both sides of the field.
The match was not easy for Aubameyang. Understandably he still needs adaptation. Its contribution has not met expectations. And unfortunately Chelsea had to lose 0-1 this time.
Raheem Sterling’s mistake was wrong to provide a pass in front of the Zagreb penalty box to make the ball controlled by Robert Ljubicic. The ball was then directed at Bruno Petkovic and then passed to Mislav Orsic who was waiting near the halfway line.
Orsic continued to move forward through the Chelsea defense line that had climbed far forward. Successfully overcoming Wesley Fofana’s obstacles, the Croatian midfielder quickly beat Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with a right-footed shot from the front of goal. The ball nestled on the left side of the Chelsea goal. And this goal was created in the 13th minute of the first half.
Chelsea’s visitors actually dominated the match. Aubameyang who became the spearhead had several opportunities to break into Zagreb’s goal. But nothing worked. In the sixth minute for example, his cooperation with Sterling failed to penetrate the Zagreb defense.
Two minutes later it was Kai Havertz’s cross which he failed to complete even though his position was already in front of the goal. And until the end of the first half, there was no dangerous action by Aubameyang.
At the start of the second half, Aubameyang actually scored the equalizer. But the goal was disallowed after Ben Chilwel who sent Aubameyang’s pass was in an offside position earlier.
Aubameyang was then withdrawn in the 59th minute and replaced by Armando Broja.After Aubameyang’s death, Chelsea had several opportunities to break into Zagreb’s goal. Kai Havertz Reece James and Jorginho had several chances towards the end of the game. But always managed to thwart Zagreb goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic.
On the other hand, two shots from Arijan Ademi in the first half and Stevan Ristovski in the second half also almost made Chelsea’s goal conceded even more. Luckily goalkeeper Kepa managed to thwart both opportunities. And the final score was 1-0 for Dinamo Zagreb’s advantage.
It’s a shame that Aubameyang couldn’t do much and had to experience a bitter debut this time. Slow movement in preparing attacks and lack of determination are considered the main causes of his team’s defeat. And this minor result puts them in the final position of the 2022/2023 Champions League group E standings.
We would need to see how will they perform in the upcoming matches both in EPL and also Champions League. Tuchel is definitely in a hotter seat as Chelsea’s management will be observing on upcoming performance.
ASL
