As we reported a week ago, new Chelsea star man Christian Pulisic will join up with the squad for their friendlies in Japan. Last Saturday, we spoke with Pulisic in the USMNT player mixed zone ahead of the Gold Cup Final loss to Mexico at Solider Field in Chicago.
We asked him about his summer vacation (or lack thereof), and if he plans to take some time off in between international duty with the USA and preseason activities with Chelsea. “Not very much at all, but I’m excited to get start up,” Pulisic responded before telling another reporter in the mixed zone, “a few days, maybe” in response to a very similar query.
Pulisic, along with another Chelsea winger who was on international duty this summer Willian (who played with Brazil in the Copa America), will fly out to Japan on Monday. Although it remains to be seen when the two will actually feature in a preseason fixture. Most likely, it would be against Kawasaki Frontale on Friday July 19. However, manager Frank Lampard could decide to hold off until July 23 vs FC Barcelona.
Either way, Pulisic has drawn a ton of praise for his development this summer, over the course of the month of work he put in with the United States national team. USA Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has said that he truly “blossomed,” and that he, along with FC Schalke man Weston McKennie, showed as much progression as anybody on the Stars and Stripes side.
For his performances of distinction with the tournament’s runners-up, Pulisic was named to the Gold Cup Best XI.
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