EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich all on alert to chase Christian Pulisic, with a summer Chelsea exit on the cards if his patience wears thin after Thomas Tuchel’s repeated snubs
- Christian Pulisic is yet to start a Premier League game under boss Thomas Tuchel
- The Chelsea manager admitted he had been ‘unfair’ on the USA international
- Pulisic was one of Chelsea’s best performers after football’s Covid lockdown
- The winger could push for a summer move away if he is not given an opportunity
- Man United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are all keeping tabs on his situation
Thomas Tuchel’s latest snub to Christian Pulisic has put Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich on alert.
The Chelsea coach admitted leaving Pulisic out against Everton on Monday night was ‘unfair’ and spoke apologetically about how he had not given the US international a chance to impress since taking over at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, Pulisic has yet to start a Premier League game under Tuchel, ironically the manager who gave him his breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund.
Christian Pulisic’s situation at Chelsea has alerted Man United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel is yet to give the winger a start in the Premier League since becoming manager
‘I can say nothing else but good things about him. Maybe his biggest problem is that I know him from Dortmund and I think he started only in the cup games,’ Tuchel said after Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Pulisic had been one of Chelsea’s most improved performers post-football’s Covid lockdown and had been their best player in the FA Cup final against Arsenal prior to his hamstring injury. Before Tuchel’s arrival, he was viewed as an intrinsic part of the starting squad.
Under Tuchel, Chelsea are now unbeaten in nine league games. Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Callum Hudson-Odoi and the out of sorts Hakim Ziyech have all been utilised in the No 10 position but Pulisic has contributed little, having been left out of every one of Tuchel’s Premier League starting line-ups.
Pulisic, who came on in the 90th minute against Everton, could push for an exit this summer
Pulisic has managed just two goals in 25 appearances – stats courtesy of www.sofascore.com
‘It is my responsibility and it is a bit unfair but I know what impact he can have in the last 20 or 30 minutes,’ added Tuchel about Pulisic.
‘He was a bit unlucky in the last few games. It isn’t a lack of trust or quality, it is just that he will have to be patient.’
However, those words will leave Pulisic more perplexed.
After taking nearly nine months to convince previous manager Frank Lampard and establish himself as a starter, it is hard to envisage the young American wanting to endure a similar exercise under Tuchel.
The USA star is unlikely to want to prove himself after initially struggling under Frank Lampard
Pulisic walks to the dressing room after his only start under Tuchel against Barnsley in the Cup
The attacking midfielder cost Chelsea £58million and is unlikely to have the patience to prove his worth once again, with indications a summer exit is more likely.
‘It is like this, we have a strong group. The guys have to keep on fighting. There’s no other way,’ insisted Tuchel.
That may not ring true for Pulisic though, with admirers of his attacking versatility beginning to take interest in his situation.
