Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel said new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will fight and justify his wearing of the number nine jersey for the Blues.
The Gabonese international reunited with Tuchel after signing a deal worth £10.3m from Barcelona on deadline day. He wears the number 9 shirt vacated by Romelu Lukaku who failed to find his form with Chelsea last season and has returned to Inter Milan. The last 11 players to wear the shirt, including three club record signings, have struggled to make an impact.
“Auba is not afraid of the past and what a number means,” said Tuchel.
“He is ready to fight to create his own history. Taking the number nine means he is brave enough.”
While at Dortmund, Aubameyang scored 79 goals in 95 appearances under Tuchel before moving to Arsenal in 2018.
Before his transfer, Aubameyang suffered a jaw injury during a violent robbery at his home near Barcelona on Monday, but said he should “recover in no time”.
