Craig Burley not blaming the managers for not playing Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic
Speaking in the ESPN show (h/t Express), former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley is not blaming the managers for not giving regular game time to winger Christian Pulisic.
The American international is currently under his third manager at Chelsea and hasn’t managed to get into the first eleven on a regular basis. All three of Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter have given him game time, but it never seemed like the player has cemented his spot, despite it being early days with Potter.
Even under Lucien Favre, the 24-year-old struggled for game time and only made 20 league appearances in the Bundesliga. He has only started one of the five games Potter has taken charge of so far at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking about Pulisic’s lack of game time, Burley is asking questions about the player rather than the managers he has played in recent years (h/t Express):
“I think his game-time continues to be a problem. I think the more managers that go in and don’t play him, people have to realise that you have got to look at the player and not keep looking at five or six coaches now, who have pretty much dealt with him in the same way.
“Frank Lampard, Potter, Lucien Favre, Thomas Tuchel, all these guys have managed him recently. The current incumbent is Graham Potter, do you think even if Christian Pulisic plays well, that he sits down and picks his team for the next game and thinks ‘I am going to pick a team and leave him out because that’s going to make us worse’?”
The American international has played 49 of the 76 league games in the last two seasons combined, not all of them coming from the start. This season, he has only stepped onto the field for 255 minutes, which is quite low, bearing in mind that Chelsea have played 13 games in all competitions thus far.
Injuries have not helped the 24-year-old’s situation, but that has not been the only issue. He does lack consistency in his game, which can be frustrating for the managers. Moreover, managers tend to not overly trust inconsistent players. That could be the reason he is not playing games regularly under any manager at Chelsea.
Pulisic is still only 24 and has a long career ahead of him if he stays fit. A move away from Stamford Bridge would help him. His next move has to be in a club where he plays regularly and shows the consistency needed.
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Newcastle United have been linked with him. A January move would not be a bad idea for him and the Magpies. It would suit Chelsea as well.