Following Borussia Dortmund’s loss in Lisbon on Tuesday night against Benfica, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was substituted after the hour mark, of which head coach Thomas Tuchel doesn’t believe the Gabon international didn’t have a problem with his decision.
“Aubameyang is not fully fit after the African Nations Cup,” Tuchel said. “His body language did not suggest that he would do better after giving away the penalty. I don’t think he had a problem with the substitution.”
Tuchel wasn’t too displeased with the result, with the second-leg all to play for with the 1-0 deficit – something that a team of Dortmund’s calibre can overturn in front of the Yellow Wall.
“It is an extremely complicated result, but I am very proud of how we played tonight. Even though I am very disappointed, I am proud of how we presented ourselves. I don’t think we played well, I think we played outstandingly. That’s only possible in football, to play this well and to still lose. Luckily, there’s a return leg for such games.
“They attacked us differently after the break, we were not prepared for how they attacked our back three. Had we played two long balls in those situations, nothing would have happened.”
