Red-hot Aubameyang aiming to fire Marseille to Europa League final
There was plenty of scepticism when Marseille signed the 34-year-old on a three-year deal after a poor last campaign at Chelsea. The Gabon international had struggled to settle at Stamford Bridge at a turbulent time for the London club, and scored just one goal in only five starts in the Premier League.
However, the return to the country of his birth after a decade abroad has worked a treat, even in a Marseille side who have lurched through numerous crises over the course of the season. Aubameyang has rediscovered the prolific form of his heady days at Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, netting 27 goals in 46 games in all competitions.
His goals have not been enough to propel Marseille into the upper reaches of the Ligue 1 table, given that they currently sit seventh with only three games left. That means there is a danger they won't qualify for Europe at all next season. Aubameyang and Marseille are on their third coach of the campaign, with Spaniard Marcelino Garcia Toral quitting in September after only seven games at the helm.
His decision to walk came after a fiery meeting between club management and unhappy supporters groups. Marcelino was replaced with former Italy star Gennaro Gattuso, but he didn't fare much better, lasting five months before being dismissed in February.
The current man in charge is Jean-Louis Gasset, the veteran 70-year-old who was available after leaving the Ivory Coast job during the Africa Cup of Nations. Gasset has not been able to make Marseille more consistent domestically, but he has led them to victories in the Europa League against Shakhtar Donetsk, Villarreal - two former winners of the competition - and Benfica.
That run, including beating former European Cup winners Benfica on penalties in
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