Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang has been axed from Chelsea's Champions League squad with
record-breaking signing Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix
included.
Benoit Badiashile is also not listed on Chelsea's UEFA squad page after
joining in a £35m deal last month.
Chelsea were only allowed to register a maximum of three new players for the
knockout stages of the Champions League, before taking on Borussia Dortmund
in the last 16, starting on February 15.
All clubs are limited to a 25-man squad and Chelsea used 24 players in the
group stage, with only one of them - Jorginho - leaving the club in the
January transfer window. Clubs had to inform UEFA of their desired squad
changes by 11pm on Thursday, February 2.
The three new registered players are allowed to have played for another club
in European competitions this season, so being cup-tied for the knockout
stages was not an option for any of the players.
Chelsea made eight signings in January for a combined total of £323.3m. Malo
Gusto is staying on loan at Lyon and Andrey Santos is waiting for a work
permit so that left Graham Potter with the dilemma of picking three players
from Fernandez, Mudryk, Felix, Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Noni
Madueke.
Aubameyang is included in Chelsea's 25-man Premier League squad along with
their new signings as there are no restrictions on how many changes clubs
can make. The deadline was also on Thursday.
The 33-year-old has not started for Chelsea since their 1-0 home defeat to
Arsenal on November 6. He has scored three goals for the club having joined
on Deadline Day last summer in a £10m deal from Barcelona which included
Marcos Alonso going the other way.
Potter said on Thursday he expected some difficult conversations with
players over his Champions League squad selection.
"There will be awkward questions and conversations as that's where we are
because only XI can play and certain numbers can be in squads," he said.
"So it's about being honest, open, respectful and as transparent as you can.
We have to create an environment where you respect players want to play and
respect players want to compete and help the team."
Chelsea's Champions League squad:
Goalkeepers:
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Marcus Bettinelli
Edouard Mendy
Defenders:
Thiago Silva
Trevoh Chalobah
Ben Chilwell
Reece James
Kalidou Koulibaly
Cesar Azpilicueta
Marc Cucurella
Wesley Fofana
Midfielders:
Enzo Fernandez
N'Golo Kante
Mateo Kovacic
Christian Pulisic
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Raheem Sterling
Mason Mount
Denis Zakaria
Hakim Ziyech
Conor Gallagher
Carney Chukwuemeka
Charlie Webster*
Lewis Hall*
Forwards:
Joao Felix
Mykhailo Mudryk
Armando Broja*
Kai Havertz
* denotes B list player
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