Former USA international Alexi Lalas had claimed that his countryman Christian Pulisic is being wasted at Stamford Bridge.
Pulisic is a highly rated USA international. He burst on to the scene playing for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and made a move to Chelsea thereafter.
The 22-year-old was supposed to be a star with the Blues but his journey has been marred by injuries since then. However, he has shown his real ability whenever he has been at the peak of his fitness.
His levels are yet to be matched by Chelsea’s other big-money recruits like Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. That has not allowed Chelsea to be the force they are supposed to be and the lack of chances for Pulisic has forced Lalas to say that they are wasting his talent.
“This is Chelsea with all the talent they have and all the money they have spent,” former USMNT star told his State of the Union podcast:
“I’ll say it right now, Christian Pulisic is too good for this Chelsea team.
“His talents are being wasted right now at Chelsea, with this Chelsea team that they have.”
Pulisic sat on the sidelines towards the start of the 2020 season due to injury but he has won his place back in the side of late and that has made Lalas confident that he can be the talisman Chelsea need.
Lalas was pretty impressed with Pulisic’s performance in Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City.
“I thought Christian Pulisic was incredible.
“I know at times it looked like he was trying to do everything himself by taking on two and three players at a time, his quickness, his one-two touches, all of that kind of stuff.
“If you watch that game [against City], a game in which Chelsea got completely destroyed, I’m hard-pressed to find anybody who wouldn’t watch that game and single out Christian Pulisic as a bright spot.
“That’s not always the case when Christian Pulisic plays, but in this game I actually appreciated and respected the fact he constantly went searching for the ball. He was constantly doing what he does so well, which is take players on.
“As it was two, three players, at times ultimately that last guy would nick the ball, but it wasn’t as if he had options up there so you’d say, ‘why’s he trying to do everything himself’ or, ‘he’s doing too much’.
“Here’s the problem. The way we’re talking about this performance from Christian Pulisic is of a player who shines despite the fact that he is not playing with the best players, or is playing against vastly superior opposition and still being able to show.”
Pulisic has appeared in 47 matches for Chelsea since his arrival to the Stamford Bridge. He has scored 13 goals and assisted 10 times since then.
