KEY POINTS

  • Chelsea sacked Tuchel after their loss to Dinamo Zagreb
  • The Blues have signed Graham Porter as their new boss
  • Porter began his Chelsea stint with a 1-1 draw against Salzburg

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has opened up on the sacking of Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, saying the German boss is "sad" and "frustrated."

Chelsea sacked Tuchel as their head coach following their defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. The Blues have brought in former Brighton boss Graham Porter as Tuchel's replacement.

Tuchel and Aubameyang shared a positive relationship since they had previously worked together at Borussia Dortmund. Their bond was believed to be one of the reasons behind Aubameyang's move from FC Barcelona to Chelsea in the summer of 2022. However, their reunion lasted only a few days.

Porter began his stint at Chelsea with a 1-1 draw with RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday. In a post-match interview, reporters asked Aubameyang if he was surprised with the Blues' decision to sack Tuchel.

Aubameyang replied, "Everyone knows the relationship that I had with Thomas. It's always sad when someone leaves the club. Obviously, I just saw him for a few days. When you play football you have to adapt very quickly to some moments in the season, this can happen."

The reporters then asked Aubameyang if he had spoken to Tuchel since the latter's exit. The former Dortmund and Barcelona forward replied," Not yet. I think he was a bit frustrated and sad, obviously, I will try to talk to him as soon as possible. It's been a crazy week for all of us, that's part of life, we have to adapt, I think it's a bit of sadness at the moment, hopefully, we'll get back to better days soon."

Chelsea have sacked manager Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel was Chelsea's boss between 2020 and 2022.

33-year-old Aubameyang has made two appearances for Chelsea, both in the Champions League. He assisted Raheem Sterling's goal in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Chelsea will now return to action next month after the international break when they take on Crystal Palace on Oct. 1.

Tuchel, who took over Chelsea's charge in the middle of the 2019-20 season, led the Stamford Bridge side to Champions League glory in his maiden campaign. The German boss recently broke his silence on his Chelsea exit.

"This is one of the most difficult statements I have ever had to write - and it is one which I hoped I would not need to do for many years. I am devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end. This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally. Thank you so much to all the staff, the players, and the supporters for making me feel very welcome from the start," Tuchel shared on Twitter.