The Athletic conducted a special interview with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who reminisced about his experiences at Chelsea and Marseille, while also looking ahead to his future.

Transferring to Chelsea with Bittersweet Feelings

In the summer of 2022, Aubameyang signed a two-year contract with Chelsea after being signed from Barcelona. The main reason for this move was his desire to reunite with Thomas Tuchel, who had coached him at Borussia Dortmund.

"If Tuchel wasn't at Chelsea, I wouldn't have left Barcelona," Aubameyang said. However, just a week after the transfer was completed, Tuchel was fired from Chelsea after their loss in the Champions League to Zagreb Dinamo.

Aubameyang appeared in the game with a facial shield and was not at his best. He recalled, "I went out despite doctors' advice. When you arrive in a new place, you want to show that you're fully committed. It was one of the worst games of my life, but I had to play."

The Change in Tuchel and Chelsea's Unrest

Aubameyang recalled the change in his relationship with Tuchel. "After that game, I felt he changed," Aubameyang said. "He wasn't the same as when we were in Dortmund a few years ago. We were very close then. He was the only one who really understood me. But at Chelsea, I felt he wasn't happy."

A few days later, Tuchel was replaced by Graham Potter at Chelsea. In October, Aubameyang scored three goals in three games, but his playing time drastically decreased after Chelsea's home defeat to Arsenal. He said he repeatedly requested more playing time from Potter, but Potter admitted a preference for using Kai Havertz.

By February 2023, Aubameyang was excluded from the Champions League squad and considered a peripheral player. He expressed, "That was when I started to feel very disrespected. They tried to loan me out to the United States, but I directly said 'no way'."

"From that moment on, I knew this season for me was over. I just went to training to stay in shape because I knew I wouldn't be playing."

As Potter was dismissed in April and Frank Lampard took over temporarily, Lampard told him, "I need you. I want to know your feelings, are you ready to play again?" But then he added, "Sorry, Aubameyang, I can't help you." Aubameyang understood that this was not Lampard's decision but came from the club's higher-ups.

The Chaos in the Chelsea Dressing Room

With the continuous expansion of the Chelsea team and many veteran players being sidelined, Aubameyang described the situation as "a complete mess". "It's not like a football dressing room anymore; it's more like an American football dressing room. With players like Hakim Ziyech, Zakaria and Victor Culioli Barra... But thankfully, I'm not alone. We laugh every day to make things a little better."

Despite this, Aubameyang bears no ill will towards Chelsea and praises the club for now being stable and competitive. He believes Chelsea needs a "big center-forward" like Didier Drogba in the past to provide goal guarantees for the team. He admitted that he couldn't fill that role at that time.

"I never established that connection," Aubameyang said. "No connection at all. Fans want to see the Aubameyang they know from Arsenal, but I wasn't ready or given the chance then. Due to what happened in Barcelona, I wasn't in my best form. It was a chaotic year for me but also a chance to catch my breath, while they didn't want me playing."

A Rebirth in Marseille

In July 2023, Aubameyang signed a three-year contract with Marseille and returned to France, the land of his birth and growth, giving him a chance to prove himself again.

"When I wasn't included in the matchday squad at Chelsea, I took a photo and said 'We'll see about that next season: fan or player,'" he recalled. "When I arrived at Marseille, my mindset was: 'You'll see the real Aubameyang.'"

However, in his first 17 games for the club, he only scored five goals. During a game against Lille in November where he was substituted early, fans expressed their dissatisfaction. This motivated him: "I told myself 'I can't accept this,'" he said. "Now I have to change my approach. I will be more aggressive."