Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel has blasted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for his ‘unhelpful’ comments about his future ahead of their huge match with RB Leipzig.
Aubameyang, 27, has been open about his future at Dortmund all season and has hinted on more than one occasion that this campaign could be his last for the Bundesliga giants before leaving to make the next step in his career.
The Gabon international has openly admitted it is his dream to play for Real Madrid in the future but Dortmund have already told the striker to quit talking about his own future and focus on helping the club move up the table, while Tuchel agrees that his comments have not been helpful.
“Such statements don’t really help,” AS quote Tuchel as saying ahead of Saturday’s clash with Leipzig. “There are moments when it is a bit annoying and whether you have to do it in public during a phase like the one we are currently in is open to debate. But it is also not something we attach too much importance to.
“If you look at the interview ind detail, you can see that he is asking himself a fundamental question - to end his career here, or dare to make another step. What counts for me is how he performs here. He is ready to give everything. I have said it time and time again - we will not reach any of our objectives without Auba.”
Aubameyang has spent the last four seasons with Dortmund and has developed into one of the most prolific strikers in Europe during that time, and with three-and-a-half-years left to run on his existing deal it will require a huge offer for Dortmund to agree to lose their star asset.
Despite representing Gabon at the Africa Cup of Nations last month, only Edinson Cavani (21) and Alexandre Lacazette (18) have scored more goals in Europe’s top five leagues this season than Aubameyang.
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