Graham Potter’s Chelsea face an uphill battle to qualify for Europe next season (Picture: Getty)
Ray Parlour has slammed Chelsea’s struggling striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and fears the Blues will finish outside the Premier League’s top six this season.
The problems are piling up for Graham Potter whose injury-ravaged side have picked up just six points from the last 24 available in the Premier League following last night’s defeat against Manchester City.
With a raft of injuries to content with, Potter was forced to summon youngsters Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson and Connor Gallagher from the bench against the champions who, by comparison, were able to introduce the likes of Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez who cost a combined total of £172million.
Potter would have been hoping for more from his more experienced players but Aubameyang, in particular, looked a shadow of his former self has he struggled to make an impact having been brought on after five minutes following an injury sustained by Raheem Sterling.
The former Arsenal captain suffered the ignominy of being hauled off midway through the second half and Parlour fears the 33-year-old is finished at the top level.
He told talkSPORT: ‘He just doesn’t look like he’s interested. That’s the big problem you have.
‘Since the likes of Drogba going back many years, Hasselbaink, players like that for Chelsea, proper numbers nines who have they had. Lukaku?
‘Whether it’s the way they play and it’s not ideal for them but certainly they are really struggling for a real goalscorer.
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‘I would look at a striker more for Chelsea (in terms of new signings). Aubameyang came on he doesn’t look the same player for me he doesn’t look like he’s enjoying his football, he didn’t make any runs and wasn’t really in the game.’
Chelsea are currently languishing in 10th place, behind west London rivals Brentford and Fulham, and can’t envisage the Blues getting into the top six, let alone a Champions League qualifying position.
He added: Top six will be a push with the teams who are there at the moment.
You’ve got Arsenal and Man City, Liverpool I know had that awful result against Brantford but I can still see them having a good run until the end of the season challenging for top four.
‘You’ve got Spurs who had a big result the other night against Palace.
‘Newcastle are going to keep winning games because they don’t concede and you always have a chance if you don’t concede if you stay in the game you will always get a chance.’
MORE : Graham Potter picks out strengths of new Chelsea signing Benoit Badiashile
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It’s no goals in 10 games now for the No.9.
