Chelsea’s new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was spotted in the stands at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the 3rd of September, 2022, watching his new side as they defeated West Ham United.
The 33-year-old former Barcelona star Aubameyang signed a two-year deal with the Blues after Barcelona and Chelsea agreed to swap players with Chelsea adding £10 million and sending Marcos Alonso to the Spanish side.
It was such a fierce atmosphere at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as Chelsea struggled to get three points against West Ham United squad.
The hosts had to suffer a great deal to beat West Ham United as Michail Antonio gave the Hammers a hedge over Chelsea in the 62nd minute before the Blues retaliated.
Thomas Tuchel’s side came back from a goal down as Thiago Silva knocked a long pass forward and Ben Chilwell was able to win a header and leveled things up with an equalizer, slashing past Lukasz Fabianski with 14 minutes remaining.
The shouts of the fans inside Stamford Bridge rose louder as Chelsea went ahead to score a die-minute goal in the remaining 2 minutes.
Kai Havertz netted an 88th-minute winner to put a smile on the faces of the fans and Chelsea’s new signing Aubameyang who visited Stamford Bridge for the first time as a Chelsea player.
However, the Hammers didn’t allow the joy of the Blues fans to last long as Maxwell Cornet struck a goal to make it 2-2 after mistakes from Reece James and goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy.
Fortunately for Chelsea, the goal was canceled after a VAR check discovered Jarrod Bowen had fouled Mendy in the build-up to the goal.
It was a huge relief for the Stamford Bridge crowd and Aubameyang that Bowen’s goal was ruled out, if not, the Blues would have ended the match with an unpleasant 2-2 draw after Kai Havertz’s goal rose a roar of victory.
The match was a tough one as no one ever expected Chelsea to have defeated West Ham with a 2-1 victory after Antonio scored for the visitors in the 62nd minute.
Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel shared his excitement in a post-match remark with BBC Sport saying “It is super tough to score against West Ham, they defend deep and with bodies – the game became more complicated with the goal we gave away.
“It was a huge effort to come back and huge credit to the team, the impact from the bench – full credit to everybody”
Tuchel was asked to comment on the advantage allotted to the Blues over West Ham’s second goal that was ruled out by VAR. He said: “It was a clear foul on the goalkeeper, I had doubts about the first one – but I will not comment, last time I got punished with huge fines. If you give your opinion, you will be fined.
The German coach continued and told BBC correspondents that the Chelsea squad has been rejuvenated with lots of commitment contributed to the team and more achievements should be expected from the Blues.
Tuchel said: “It was not easy to keep the belief, it is hard to attack fluid and create chances against West Ham, nobody plays an open, spectacular match against them.
“We take it now step by step, we will try to use this momentum – things are clear now, we can demand full commitment to everything. We are in the middle of creating this and it is not finished”
Although it’s good news for Chelsea to welcome their long-awaited striker Aubameyang, however, it’s not certain whether the newcomer would register his debut soon for the Blues as he’s nursing a broken jaw.
The former Barcelona and Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is currently not available for action after having his jaw broken when armed burglars broke into his house near Barcelona last weekend.
However, the Blues are doing everything possible to enlist him in the squad’s XI as soon as possible.
Aubameyang to play with a mask
Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel implied that Aubameyang could make his debut when the Blues travel to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League Campaign with a mask on Tuesday.
Tuchel said: “We try with a mask. It depends a little bit on what the specialists say who create the mask for him.
“And then how he adapts to the mask so maybe it could be Tuesday, although maybe this is very soon. So maybe it’s Fulham, maybe it is a week later.
“The very latest [is] after the national break but we try to push things and Auba is happy to push things.
“He is out there now at the specialist to get his mask done and then he tries, I think, Sunday in training.”
Nonetheless, the state of Aubameyang’s injury and how he adapts to wearing a protective mask means his involvement in Chelsea’s game is not yet ascertained.
Chelsea chief correspondent Adam Newson in a post-match interview with BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea vs West Ham United Saturday match revealed that the new striker starts training today, 4th of September, 2022 but whether or not Aubameyang will make his debut soon depends on the nature of the protective mask and how well he adapts to it.
Newson said: “He trains tomorrow (on Sunday) but I can’t tell you if it is full contact of more individually. He has the mask but we need to check if it’s full contact, half contact, or full contact”
