Aubameyang admits comments have made life ´difficult´

Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has rejected the opportunity to discuss his future again after admitting his previous comments made life “difficult”.

The Gabon international induced the wrath of club chiefs last month after claiming he may have to leave Signal Iduna Park to achieve his career goals while he has repeatedly talked of his desire to one day play for Real Madrid to fulfil a promise made to his grandfather.

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc ordered Aubameyang to concentrate on his football and it seems the 27-year-old has taken his words on board.

When asked about the options open to him in the coming years, Aubameyang told DAZN: “I really don’t know, I’m just focused on this season and I don’t want to think too much about that right now.” 

He added with a smile: “The last weeks were difficult after my last words so I don’t want to talk about that.”

Dortmund are third in the Bundesliga, 13 points behind Bayern Munich, and will hope to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the Champions League last-16 against Benfica next week.

Thomas Tuchel’s men are also in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal but saw their last-eight tie at Sportfreunde Lotte postponed on Tuesday due to the state of pitch.

Bayern await the winner in the semi-finals and Aubameyang is aware of the importance of the Pokal to Dortmund this season.

He said: “I think we can reach some goals this year. For sure the DFB-Pokal is important for us, like the Bundesliga, but we know the Bundesliga will be difficult. The Pokal is a chance for us. 

“For the Champions League we’ll see, we have to fight in the next game against Benfica to reach the next round. We can do something very good this year.”

Dortmund’s policy of buying young talent and developing them sits well with Aubameyang, who is happy to be a mentor to the likes of 19-year-old French forward Ousmane Dembele.

“I try to speak with them because they are young but they are great guys and they are intelligent, so when I speak they hear,” he said.

“I think they will reach a few goals in their career.

“I try to speak with them a lot and, of course, with Dembele I try to keep him with me and work with him in front of goal.”