Graham Potter reveals why Aubameyang was absent from the Chelsea squad against Man City

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has said a back injury prevented Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from playing in his side’s FA Cup defeat 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 had questioned whether Aubameyang’s dismal performance on Thursday was the reason why he was excluded from Potter’s team on Sunday. However, the Chelsea boss set the record straight.

Aubameyang started Chelsea’s tie against City on the bench but made his way onto the pitch after just five minutes as Raheem Sterling was forced off injured.

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 game to question whether Aubameyang would ever appear in a Chelsea shirt again.

Therefore, people began to talk when Aubameyang’s name was missing from the team-sheet on Sunday afternoon.

However, Potter has squashed any potential rumours by explaining how the striker had missed the game due to a back injury.

Speaking after the game, Potter said: “Auba felt pain in his back ahead of this one. Christian [Pulisic] just opened up his knee in the game the other day, we’re still analysing it but it’s going to be weeks for him.

“Raheem [Sterling] had an action in the first minute of the game, he felt something in his hamstring, and we’re still analysing that, no timescale yet.”

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

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

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

Potter – who took over in September after Tuchel’s sacking – admitted that he can sympathise with Chelsea’s fans.

“Clearly we are suffering and it’s not nice at all,” Potter said. “We can’t do anything other than do our jobs better and work harder.

“You can understand the fans’ frustration and we respect that. There are always other opinions and criticism because results haven’t been positive.

“We’re going through a bad moment and sometimes when you have them you need something to blame. We have to stick together and keep working.”