EPL: Aubameyang not afraid of num 9 – Tuchel on player’s decision at Chelsea

Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has said new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not afraid of the supposed curse of the No. 9 shirt at the club.

Tuchel stated this while speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game at home to West Ham.

The Blues brought in Aubameyang from Barcelona on the transfer deadline day on Thursday.

The 33-year-old seals his return to the English top flight only seven months after leaving Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal.

Aubameyang will be Chelsea’s newest No. 9, taking over from Romelu Lukaku who rejoined Inter Milan after a lacklustre season at Stamford Bridge.

“If he is brave enough to take the nine [No. 9 shirt], he takes the nine,” Tuchel said.

“It’s on us to prove it, for me to find a position, to create enough support for him and on him to finish our attacks. He is not afraid of the past and what a number means. He is ready to write his own history.

“Auba is happy to fight for challenges so if he wants to take the No. 9 shirt or he wants to show people in London he is better than they think, then all the better.”