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Thomas Tuchel admitted he does not know how Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang kept his licence when the Arsenal striker used to drive him crazy.
Tuchel recounted some brilliant stories and memories of Aubameyang from two years together at Borussia Dortmund and is still on texting terms with the Arsenal captain.
Chelsea boss Tuchel joked how he used to organise team meetings and tell Aubameyang it started 15 minutes earlier because it was the only way he would get there on time and how he could also hear his Lamborghini sports car revving up from “a kilometre away.”
But Tuchel also painted a very different picture of Aubameyang which is often portrayed from when he left Dortmund to join Arsenal in January 2018.
Tuchel said: “I don’t know and I still don’t know how he managed to keep the driving licence in his pocket because from the sound of the car, I don’t know if he was always on the speed limit.
“That’s him. It’s hard to be really mad with the guy because he comes with a big smile, he has a big heart and gives an excuse to everybody and you could accept to have one or two guys like this in the team.
“He was pretty much the only one (to report up late), so when we wanted him to be on time, we told him the meeting was 10.45am when the meeting was 11am so there was a good chance he would be there with everyone else.
“You could hear the car from far away. You could hear him from a kilometre away, we could prepare everything, start the video because he will arrive soon!
“Back in the days at Dortmund, it was a pure pleasure to have him in the squad. Auba was a fantastic striker, a fantastic finisher on the pitch. But more than that, he was a fantastic worker off the pitch. I think he did not miss one single training in two years.
“Yeah, it was a very reliable relationship because he delivered an unbelievable amount of goals, his speed was unique in Bundesliga and he was a crucial player. It was a pleasure to work with him, always a smile on his face, very, very honest guy.
“A bit of a crazy guy, but this is nice crazy.”
Aubameyang, 31, is a world class striker who has had a difficult season at Arsenal this season after being dropped for the North London derby for turning up late, contracted malaria and also was given compassionate leave to visit his sick mother in France.
Tuchel admits he regularly texts Aubameyang and they will face each other at Stamford Bridge but the chances of a reunion at Chelsea seem pretty remote even if the Blues boss admits that he is surprised his former striker has not won more in his career.
When asked if he would fancy working with him again, Tuchel said: “Well, he does not get younger, that’s the problem.
“I never had a feeling that he lacks a certain mentality when you want to win stuff.
“But clearly he cannot do it alone and he also needs a top squad to play in to compete for the highest level.
“But I can just say that my experiences with Auba, for two years, you could push him to the limit and he was always up for a challenge, always open to the next step, always open to stay hungry, was never lazy, never satisfied with one goal, two goals, always going for a third.
“He always looked to the next game, to reach the next level and so I had a strong feeling that he is a real winner and you can rely on him.
“He was crucial in counter pressing, crucial in defending, huge impact physically in the two years that we were together and it was a pleasure to have him.”
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