Christian Pulisic has a “major issue” at Chelsea. That’s according to ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, who maintains that manager Frank Lampard would not have bought the American, had the opportunity been presented to him.
The 21-year-old, who has brought over by Lampard’s predecessor, Maurizio Sarri, has produced when given the chance, as evidenced by his four assists. However, there just doesn’t seem to be a way into the team right now, given all the depth and talent the Blues have at the wings and midfield positions.
Lampard’s bringing Mason Mount with him from Derby County has proven to be a huge obstacle for Pulisic when it comes to getting major minutes at Stamford Bridge. For his part, the American has said all the right things, vowing to stay and fight for his place in the team.
“He has to prove himself,” Sutton said in an interview with Radio 5 Live. “Frank Lampard has no agenda against him, he’s picking the best possible team to win games of football, that’s his job.”
“He wasn’t Frank’s signing, of course. With [Callum] Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount coming to the fore, he’s going to have a major issue getting into the starting line-up. I really do think that. I don’t see a way in for him at the moment.
“Fifty-eight million, a lot of money to spend and it would be interesting to ask Frank now if he would sign him at this moment in time if he hadn’t signed him before? The answer to that, I think, is pretty obvious – he wouldn’t.”
Then there is the issue of Pulisic’s international career. The United States Men’s National Team will take on Cubs Friday night, and then Canada next Tuesday in CONCACAF Nations League play.
Pulisic is the face of USA Soccer, and in order for him to reach his full potential, he needs regular first team football on the club level. Given how he just moved over in January, it really needs to be at Chelsea, given his price tag- £58 million ($72m), the most expensive American player ever.
If it’s not going to happen at Stamford Bridge, then he may need to move on soon to some place else.
Chelsea, currently on international break, sit fifth in the Premier League table. They return to action Oct 19, when they host Newcastle United.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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