Christian Pulisic, the $72 million man that Chelsea signed this past January, is buried far down the Blues depth chart, but he’s made been productive when given the opportunity. Towards the tail end of Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Southampton today, he registered his fourth assist of the season, in just his sixth appearance.
He set up Michy Batshuayi, his former Borussia Dortmund teammate, beautifully. Take a look at this stunning set-up. Clearly, the American is not the flop that many have said he is so far.
Pulisic assist -> Michy goal
Hello Coach Frank Lampard, Pulisic has proved pic.twitter.com/NESh5vijB9— Keripik Pisang²° (@Evan_Havillah) October 6, 2019
Pulisic came on for Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 80′ and made an impact. The 21-year-old winger and £54 million man from Hershey, Pennsylvania has found himself below CHO, Mason Mount, Ross Barkley, Willian and Pedro when it comes to the selection priority. He’s gone an unused substitute in three Premier League fixtures and was left out of the last UCL squad entirely.
Prior to kickoff of the match today, first year manager Frank Lampard explained that he has had to make some harsh decisions when it comes to his team selection.
“Sometimes I have to make harsh decisions and say something that I see can help their game but might not sound that nice because I want them to be the best, all of them. That’s what I want them to be. That’s part of the process,” the club legend said.
“Christian Pulisic has a price tag. Ross Barkley is an international player. Mason Mount is an international player, Callum Hudson-Odoi just signed a new contract, Bayern Munich wanted to buy him last summer. He’s an international player.”
Different Colors, Same Combination. What a goal by Batshuayi from Pulisic. #SOUCHE pic.twitter.com/5y2vaDnOfC
— ChelseaMaven (@Chelsea_Maven) October 6, 2019
“We can all focus on Pulisic from the other day but Callum’s the same and I have to speak in the real world when I speak to them and sometimes as a manager you want more.
“You have to be honest and the players have to react to that and Callum has now come on with two assists in the games that he’s come on and that’s what you want to keep pushing. I love the young players. I particularly love the young players because I want them to improve daily.”
There just isn’t room for everybody, but as the season goes on, if Chelsea stays alive in numerous competitions deep into the campaign, there will be a need for more bodies to get on the pitch.
Pulisic is like a magnet who pulls everyone's attention towards him to free his teammates!
Almost the exact replica of his assist against Liverpool in the super Cup! pic.twitter.com/Fm0sj9gp70— Nouman (@nomifooty) October 6, 2019
Chelsea are progressing rapidly with their young rebuild, but Pulisic really hasn’t been a part of that so far.
In addition to Batshuayi, Chelsea got goals from Mount, Abraham and N’Golo Kante today. After a very slow start to the season, they now find themselves in the thick of the top four race. They are level on points with fourth place Leicester City, but one slot behind due to goal differential.
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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