The status of Graham Potter's relationship with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still believed to be on good terms with manager Graham Potter, despite being hooked against Manchester City on Thursday.

Aubameyang was left out of the starting XI again for the champions’ visit to Stamford Bridge and still hasn’t started a game since club football resumed following the World Cup break.

The 33-year-old got the nod to come on after only a few minutes when Raheem Sterling was unable to continue, but was then subbed off himself barely an hour later.

A substitute being substituted is often a major source of embarrassment, but the Daily Telegraph has at least reported in the wake of the incident that there is ‘no problem’ between player and manager and that they still have a ‘healthy working relationship’.

Aubameyang has struggled to nail down a regular place at Chelsea since a surprise return to the Premier League from Barcelona in September, only a few months after leaving Arsenal.

The Gabon international had scored 11 times in 17 La Liga appearances for Barça in just half a season in Spain. But the Catalans traded up significantly to land Robert Lewandowski during the summer and Aubameyang was among several players culled at Camp Nou to make room in the squad.

Aubameyang was famously a hit when he first joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019 and had scored 54 Premier League goals in his first two and a half years, as well as dragging the Gunners to an unexpected FA Cup triumph in 2020.