Chelsea’s last game saw them lose to Man City, a game where they looked as lost as they have for some time against a superior opposition.
One bright spark was Christian Pulisic, who had some nice moments and made a few things happen, without really impacting the game too heavily.
On American TV they made a lot of him – as always, and Alexi Lalas even went as far as to say his countryman is “too good” for this Chelsea team.
Well hold on, this is a Pulisic who was so bad earlier in the season that he couldn’t get in the team. We’re happy he’s in better form now, but let’s not pretend he hasn’t had his own dodgy moments.
You can hear the former US international speaking in the clip embedded here:
"I'll say it right now. Christian Pulisic is too good for this Chelsea team."@AlexiLalas looks back at his performance from their Premier League loss to Man City ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/oCih2h9lq9
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 7, 2021
Yeah he is a good player to watch anytime. Whether witi or without ball.
As a Chelsea supporter in the US, I agree with your take. Yes, he has pushed the ball and helped create chances, but his finishing hasn’t been any better than Tammy’s. Having consecutive matches where he’s fully fit doesn’t mean he’s too good for the team. Hazard went to Real Madrid because he could take over matches with his driving of the ball. HE was too good for Sarri’s Chelsea squad. Pulisic could get there. But overall, the team needs to start playing together by moving better off the ball, filling space and reading each other. It was so great before the international break. As for Werner, it’s as if that Spain drubbing destroyed his confidence. There are WAY too many gaps in midfield that Pulisic does track back for at times. We need Mount and Havertz, in addition to Kante (potentially Declan Rice) to control the midfield better. The lineups are too sporadic that no one can get a sense of how the others play, or even guess who might be lining up alongside them each time out.
Ignore Lalas. He’s a blowhard. We Americans know this. Your headline misleadingly says “American pundits”….. it’s only Lalas. Don’t blow things out of proportion or you are as bad as Lalas. Yes Americans care about Pulisic. But it’s not out of ego that we care. It’s about the fact that few Americans have had the potential to be good offensively in one of the best leagues. So we follow with interest. And we follow with fear. Because as your article shows, the media will be quick to pounce if he doesn’t produce.