Chelsea star Christian Pulisic insists Blues squad are even hungrier to lift the Champion League trophy again this season
Speaking to the club’s official website, Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic revealed that the Blues squad are now desperate to retain their Champions League title this season, after beating Premier League rivals Manchester City 1-0 in the final last year.
Pulisic was one of many stars that night to win a maiden UCL trophy, with the American international coming off the bench in the second half to make sure that Chelsea not only kept their slender lead but also try to extend it. The forward had an important role to play on the road to their major European triumph, by scoring and assisting goals in the semi-final of the competition to send them through to the final.
Although the USA superstar couldn’t add to his goal tally in the final, Pulisic says that tasting success last year has only made his teammates hungry for more, as they eye a Champions League win once again this season.
“When you think back to last year, it’s extremely special and makes you proud, but now it’s about winning it again this year. It definitely makes us hungry for more this year now and we want to feel that again. I think we’re really happy with where the club is at.”
The Blues have so far made it to the Round of 16 in the competition this year, setting up a double-legged tie against Ligue 1 champions Lille. Pulisic will be keen on making an appearance in the clash and grabbing the headlines as they progress through the rounds, seeking to become the first American to win back-to-back UCL trophies.
UCL accomplishment repeat?
Chelsea fans bore witness to an incredible run to a Champions League triumph last season, with new head coach Thomas Tuchel leading the club to their second UCL trophy, just four months after he replaced Frank Lampard. He would go on to further help the team win a Super Cup in the summer.
Nine months on, Pulisic feels that his team’s success last season is still yet to sink in, and believes that it was hard to imagine them going out and winning the competition at one stage in the season. At the time of Tuchel’s arrival, Chelsea were in ninth place in the Premier League. It is fair to say that European glory appeared to be a bridge too far at that point in time.
“Halfway through the season, if we’d heard that we’d win the Champions League, I don’t think anyone would have believed you. It still like hasn’t fully sunk in that we won the Champions League. It’s such a huge accomplishment.”
Chelsea fans would never be able to forget last season’s UCL journey, as Chelsea were underdogs going into the final against a Manchester City team that had just won the Premier League. On the way, the Blues fought past some European heavyweights, seeing off Atletico Madrid, Porto, and Real Madrid.
The end of the season was even more memorable for Pulisic, who won the Champions League and then immediately set off to play the CONCACAF Nations League final with his national team, where he dispatched a penalty in extra time to score the winning goal and help the USA national team lift an international trophy.
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Whether he will end the 2021-22 season on a similar note remains to be seen. Winning the Champions League this season will see us draw level with Manchester United’s tally of three European Cups.