According to a recent report by the BBC, renowned football analyst Garth Crooks has heaped a lot of praise on the recent performances of Chelsea’s American sensation Christian Pulisic. Writing on his team of the week column, the former Tottenham and Manchester United player complimented the American’s performance against Crystal Palace.
He said that Joel Ward should be given some time off to recover from the running around he was given by Pulisic in the first half. At one point, the BBC analyst even went on to say that the Chelsea star’s skills were so emphatic that Joel Ward “nearly had to pay to get back in the ground.”
How Did Christian Pulisic Come Up At Borussia Dortmund?
The exciting winger joined Borussia Dortmund with massive expectations on his shoulders already, because of just how good he was as an American ‘soccer’ player. Despite this common stereotype, the youngster was keen to showcase his ability from day one. The fact that the current Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, is the one who sanctioned the youngster’s signing at Dortmund, further strengthened his case.
Within a year of joining with the U-17 setup, he broke into the first team. The Borussia Dortmund academy has been a conveyer belt of top quality players for many years now. This meant that the going wasn’t about to get easy for the American. He scored goals for Dortmund and put in some memorable displays as well, but never managed to become a regular in the squad.
Having spent just about three years at the Signal Iduna Park, the youngster played in 127 competitive fixtures for the Bundesliga outfit and pitched in with 19 goals and 26 assists. He made a move to Chelsea in the January window last season, only to be loaned back to Dortmund until the end of the season. Having now transferred to West London permanently, the American is making quite the impact.
How Has Christian Pulisic Fared At Chelsea So Far?
The 21-year-old began the campaign effectively having to do with a place on Frank Lampard’s talented bench. Despite the massive price tag weighing the English manager down, he fought the pressure to rush him into the team, and eventually, it paid off. After Christian Pulisic was introduced into the Chelsea setup, the only word to describe his impact is ‘explosive’.
He burst onto the scene at Stamford Bridge, scoring five goals in his last three Premier League appearances. His ability to make a difference in the final third is further highlighted by his chance creation figures. The youngster has been directly involved in ten of the Blues’ goals across all competitions this season, with only Tammy Abraham at 14, with more.
His ability to run with the ball is what sets him apart from the rest of the Chelsea players, and is showcased in the fact that he averages 3.2 key dribbles per game. The American is creating almost two key passes every ninety minutes, making him one of the Blues’ biggest attacking threats as well. With an average of three shots every game, his hunger for goals is undoubtedly showing in Chelsea’s current league position.
Have Blues Hit The Jackpot By Signing ‘Captain America’?
Frank Lampard’s treatment of the youngster has been nothing short of majestic, and how the winger has just gloriously blended into the side is the stuff of dreams for Chelsea fans. With the way things are going, it’s easy to forget that he was brought in as a direct replacement for Eden Hazard. Although the Belgian’s shoes are still way too big for the American to fill, the rate at which he’s developing as a player is unquestionably a step in the right direction.
