Chelsea manager Graham Potter praises Christian Pulisic in his new role against Wolves
Speaking to Football.London, Chelsea manager Graham Potter praised winger Christian Pulisic for his performance in a new role against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
The American international scored the second of the three goals as the Blues ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. This was only his second league start and he did not harm his chances of starting more games in the future games.
The 24-year-old is a right winger but can play in every position across the forward line. Under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, he was used as a wing-back on either side in some games as well.
Praising his performance and talking about his new role, here’s Potter (h/t Football.London):
“Yeah [Pulisic being nervous] and I think that’s understandable, he’s a human being. He wants to play, he wants to help. But it’s just basic maths isn’t it? You can only pick 11, and there’s 24 of them.
“So unless somebody gives me a solution it’s just trying to work with the players, work with the group, understand that we need everybody, that’s clear for me. Then it’s about how do you get the players on the pitch in roles that suit them. And that role for Christian today [vs Wolves] was a good one, high wide left, he can attack the backline and he managed to score.”
What this quote does is probably make it clear that the current manager won’t be using Pulisic as a wing-back. Rather he wants the player to stay high and wide to stretch the opposition’s defence and also be closer to the goal than ever before.
Given how expertly the 24-year-old finished his chance against Wolves, it feels as if the confidence is still there if he is given chances to score.
Potter is a great man-manager and has a good understanding of how to maximise the potential of each player. He may have just cracked the code with Pulisic, by making it clear that he wants the player to be involved in the final third more often than not.
More Chelsea News:
- Chelsea eyeing transfers for Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino and AS Roman’s Lorenzo Pellegrini
- Jason Cundy reveals his worry about Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly
- Joe Cole claims scouts will question the attitude of Rafael Leao in the Chelsea game
With games coming thick and fast, expect the American international to get more game time before the World Cup. His contributions against Wolves were probably a teaser of what he can do after spending more time with the manager. Playing games before the major tournament would also help him in being match-fit in Qatar.