Out-of-favour Chelsea star “excited” to prove himself to new manager Graham Potter

Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic excited and eager to prove himself under Graham Potter

Speaking to ESPN (h/t Metro), Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic has insisted that he is excited and eager to prove himself under new manager Graham Potter.

The USA international, who was at the fringes of things at Stamford Bridge under former boss Thomas Tuchel, feels that this is a fresh start.

Potter was appointed as the Blues’ boss earlier this month and the team has only played one game under him so far. With plenty of games coming up, there is an opportunity for the likes of Pulisic to train well and barge themselves into the reckoning of the manager.

Here’s what the 24-year-old said regarding his fresh start (h/t Metro):

“I’m feeling good going back, honestly. I have a fresh start now, and I’m excited to play for the new manager. So really just looking forward to it. I just have to prove myself, as everyone does, and as I’ve done before.”

Pulisic was injured on international duty last week which kept him out of the game against Japan. The former Borussia Dortmund man was back fit quickly and played more than 75 minutes in a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

He should be available for Chelsea’s weekend clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. It remains to be seen what sort of a role the 24-year-old will play under the tutelage of Potter.

The Dortmund youth product hasn’t had a proper uplift to his Blues career so far since arriving in 2019. His relationship with Tuchel was not very good and he was more of a fringe player under the German.

There is no doubt that Pulisic has the talent and everything in his game to make the difference at Chelsea. For him, as he rightly said, it is time to put in the hard yards on the training field and make the manager guilty for not picking him.

The Blues play nine games in October and the November schedule before the World cup break isn’t rosy either. So, there will be opportunities for squad rotation, meaning games for the not-so-first-choice players.

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Whenever that chance comes, Pulisic needs to grab that with both hands. It would not only be good for his club career but will offer him needed match practice ahead of the mega tournament in Qatar where his country is depending on him to lead by example on the pitch.