It seems Christian Pulisic can’t catch a break at Chelsea, as he is falling out of the plans of yet another manager at Stamford Bridge. The winger was once again benched by the Blues’ new gaffer Graham Potter for their crucial Champions League game against AC Milan. Potter has been in charge of three games at Chelsea so far, and Pulisic hasn’t started any of those. Former footballing greats Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher assessed the American’s situation here after Chelsea’s 3-0 win over the reigning Italian champions.
Pulisic’s unpleasant situation at Chelsea has prevailed since he joined the Blues back in the summer of 2019. The attacker has seen three different managers at the club; Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and now Graham Potter and has evidently failed to convince any of them. Arsenal legend Henry questioned the 24-year-old’s efforts, whereas Carragher warned the winger reminding him of the World Cup where he will be representing America next month.
Henry feels Christian Pulisic needs to convince the managers, as Carragher rings worrying bells for America
Christian Pulisic has been viewed as the most unlucky boy at Chelsea, as none of the previous two managers he’s played under at the club were ready to fully trust him. While Lampard may have seemed a bit open to the idea giving Pulisic 39 starts in his stint, Tuchel despite knowing the winger from his Borussia Dortmund days only handed him 30 starts across 71 games.
A change of manager has has been thought as a new chance for the USMNT captain at the club to prove his mettle, its rather turning out to be a scary situation for him. Tuchel’s ousting and Potter’s appointment too was seen as a glimmer of hope for Pulisic, who enjoyed a mere 13 starts in the Premier League last season, and only one in the Champions League. But Potter to is yet to pick him in his starting eleven, and has played him for 14 minutes only across three games so far.
Thierry Henry, who was at punditry duty on CBS Sports came out lashing at Christian Pulisic as he explained the youngster needs to convince the managers and cannot always pin the blame on them. Henry said:
“At one point you [Christian Pulisic] are gonna have to bring something on the table. How many managers are not going to trust you? It’s gonna have to be you at one point. So find a way.”
Meanwhile, Henry’s compatriot Carragher raised greater concerns for USMNT as their captain has player just 175 minutes out of possible 720. Carragher said:
“The manager at Chelsea changes quite a lot, and you always think, OK, you [Pulisic] are gonna have a chance, a new chance at proving something, he might play differently.
“But we haven’t seen much of him already, and it’s early days for Graham Potter but Thomas Tuchel didn’t use him too much, certainly the new manager [hasn’t] in these early games. So I think it’s a little bit worrying for America in terms of the World Cup.
“We talk in England as well about getting players up to speed for the World Cup and it doesn’t look like he’s gonna be maybe at his best, in terms of fitness-wise, energy, sharpness, rhythm.
“There’s just so many players in those attacking positions, the most he’s gonna get is minutes coming off the bench. And I don’t know if that will be enough for him to show his best in the national team in the World Cup.”
Christian Pulisic’s game time has really been a concern for both the player as well as his national team coach Gregg Berhalter who will want his captain and star-man to lead from the front against their group stage opponents England, Wales and Iran. The winger was even tipped to leave this summer for regular minutes, with Manchester United, Juventus and AC Milan all interested in snapping him up.
But Pulisic stayed after the club’s American owner Todd Boehly reportedly made some serious intervention. Tuchel was sacked and Potter walked through the door, only to further stagnate the 24-year-old on the bench. Time is running out for Christian Pulisic to cement his place in the Blues’ starting line-up, and he could well leave them next summer if there’s no change in his situation.