When Christian Pulisic became a Chelsea FC player in 2019, all the signs were of a promising deal that would greatly benefit club and player.
But two years is a long time in football.
Back then, Chelsea were managed by Frank Lampard, who signed the young former Borussia Dortmund player for an estimated 58million transfer fee. During his first season at Chelsea, he gradually showed the strength and skill needed to replace Eden Hazard as an attacking force.
Since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel as the Chelsea boss in January 2021 things have been more difficult for Pulisic. His appearances under the new boss have been more limited and some commentators were questioning how much playing time the American was getting as early as three months into Tuchel’s appointment.
There were bright spots last year though. Pulisic shone towards the end of last season, providing Chelsea’s only goal in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in Spain.
𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 🇺🇸#UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/KZuOnXDcH3
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 29, 2021
The 1-1 first leg result came ahead of the second-leg 2-0win, where Pulisic made an assist for the second goal. The final win against Manchester City secured the 22-year-old winger with his first Champions League Trophy.
The lack of chances for Pulisic so far this season is also surprising given that Tuchel managed him at Dortmund. The German coach gave Pulisic his first senior start at Dortmund.
This season Pulisic looks to be a vital one for Pulisic at Chelsea. Even in the US online betting, Chelsea are considered second favourites for the title, but the quality of the attack means chances are likely to be few and far between unless he can find some form.
The Future at Chelsea for Pulisic
After suffering an injury while away on international duty with the United States, Pulisic has only featured in one match so far for Chelsea.
The forward will be hoping for a full recovery so that he can build on his strong potential with the team. The US captain – nicknamed Captain America thanks to match-winning performance for his country – certainly has the ability to be one of the best in the world.
Pulisic’s battles with recurring, problematic injuries have however remained a central consideration. The fast-paced attacking midfielder regularly draws defenders to make mistakes and costly clumsy challenges. This makes him an invaluable member of the squad, but also vulnerable to injuries.
An ankle injury suffered during the USA’s 4-1 win over Honduras means that Pulisic is expected to miss more out on more premiership action. Despite the injury, there are positive signs that Pulisic will be a force to be reckoned with at Chelsea this season.
The player looked powerful in a bright performance at the start of the season. He came off the bench to replace the injured Hakim Ziyech during the UEFA Super Cup in August. He then converted from the spot during the penalty shootout to conquer Villareal.
He then started in Chelsea’s first league game of the season and scored the second goal of his team’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Before the ankle injury, Pulisic also had to miss out on two big matches due to a bout of COVID-19. That interrupted this good form and forced him to sit out big games against Liverpool and Arsenal.
Last season there was also concern about Pulisic’s health and ability to shake off muscle-related injuries. He frequently had trouble with hamstring or calf injuries, which limited his potential for having an extended run in the side.
Tuchel’s tactical formations have also not always worked in Pulisic’s favour. The head coach favours a system based on employing wing backs, to maraud up and down the flanks. While Pulisic can be employed as an inverted winger or more traditional type of attacking midfielder, under Lampard he spent more time on the wing.
This means Pulisic is not always a natural fit in Tuchels’ preferred system. He does have time on his side though. He is contracted to stay with Chelsea until 2024. The young player is only one or two great performances away from becoming an essential part of the team.
If Pulisic can manage to banish injury and health concerns, a successful stay in the team looks more than possible. The fact that he has proven himself to be more than capable of mixing with the best when given the opportunity to do so shows how valuable he can be going forward. The fact that Tuchel is well aware of the American’s talents from their time together at Dortmund could mean that he does not need to prove anything.
That, plus the healthy transfer fee that was paid for him should offer Pulisic with plenty more opportunities to impress.
Despite his big match experience and strong career to date, Pulisic is still only 22. The likelihood is that he will continue to improve as a player. . He has already shown resilience and adaptability to different playing conditions.
If Pulisic can keep this up, he will remain a high-level, and potentially world-beating, player for Chelsea.
