Is the situation similar to Ozil's departure?
It’s a really particular situation, first of all with the importance that the player has at the club, with their role, with the relationship that I have with him, but unfortunately, this is the situation that we have and we have to face it.
Were you expecting to make the announcement?
For sure, I hoped I would be here today talking about something different and talking about Auba in a completely different way, but again, we have to make decisions and I’m here with the club to try and make the right decisions every single day and this is all we try to do.
Can the news inspire the team?
I’m hoping that the team tomorrow is going to get out there with the fire in their eyes and knowing the importance of the game. West Ham are within catching distance and tomorrow we play at home in front of our people and we expect a great performance and a great result.
Could football go back behind closed doors? Everything that happened this week is a really worrying sign. There are games that have been cancelled and postponed for that reason, players and staff members with really high numbers of positive tests. It’s really worrying.
Is there an ongoing disciplinary situation with Aubameyang?
What I can say again is that we have made this decision based on certain moments where he has not fulfilled his duties, and that’s it. That expectation and commitment that we need from every player, that’s at a different level. That’s why we were forced to make that decision.