Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was dropped for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon for ‘internal reasons’.
The Gabonese international has scored 10 goals in all competitions so far this season, including three in the Champions League, and he had been expected to start up front for the clash at Signal Iduna Park.
However, the 27-year-old was omitted from the matchday squad shortly before kick-off and had to watch from the stands, as his side secured their place in the knockout stages with a 1-0 victory over their Portuguese opponents.
However, Tuchel refused to confirm if the former Saint-Etienne player had breached club discipline. “It is an internal issue and will remain an internal issue,” Tuchel said.
The club’s CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, was also coy on the reasons behind Aubameyang’s omission although he did confirm the striker would be in the squad for Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with Hamburg at Volksparkstadion.
Watzke told local television: “The internal reasons are exactly that, internal. I will not say anything. But the good thing is he will be fresh against Hamburg. He will be back in the squad against Hamburg.”
Dortmund, who have failed to win any of their last four Bundesliga games, are 1.44 to secure all three points on Saturday while Hamburg are on offer at 7.00 and the draw is priced at 4.33.
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