Top Stories

Lampard: “Pulisic’s opportunities will come”

Sunday marked the third-consecutive match in which Christian Pulisic was an unused substitute for Premier League side Chelsea.

Pulisic did not feature in either of Chelsea’s three matches over an eight-day span, which saw the club win only one of those three. The 21-year-old has struggled to get on the field of late under Frank Lampard and didn’t get a chance in the Blues 2-1 home loss to Liverpool.

Lampard was asked postmatch at Stamford Bridge of Pulisic’s lack of playing time and was honest with his response.

“He wasn’t a victim of the injuries. I’ve got a squad to pick from. Before that he had played a few games,” Lampard said. “Willian has come back in and been sharp and looked good. I decided to go with Mason [Mount] today, because we needed to stay strong in midfield and play Mason high up the pitch.”

“That is my choice to make. He will get ample opportunities. He is a young player as well as everyone is talking about Mason and Tammy and Fikayo. He is actually as young, if not younger, than some of them. His chances will come.”

Pulisic has made five appearances in all competitions, but none overall since Aug. 31st. He was called back early from U.S. Men’s National Team camp earlier this month ahead of Chelsea’s date with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but was an unused sub that match as well.

Chelsea are currently 2-2-2 in the EPL this season, sitting in 11th place in the league table. The permanent move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea was always going to be tough for Pulisic, but a lack of playing time is something that isn’t going to help his individual confidence. Lampard admitted he has plenty of roster decisions to make especially with numerous players returning from injury.

“I have to make choices. There is him sitting on the bench, Pedro sitting on the bench, Ross Barkley on the bench, Batshuayi, who deserves more minutes for the way he’s training at the minute. Those are the unfortunate choices I need to make,” Lampard said.

Pulisic’s next best opportunity to crack Lampard’s starting lineup could be this week as Chelsea face fourth-tier side Grimsby Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Comments

  1. Well Pulisic wasnt starting in Germany either after he was traded. I think this will not end well for him. He’ll ride the bench until hes loaned somewhere ….I just dont see him being a starter on Chelsea

    Reply
  2. Pulisic is waisting his time at Chelsea. Needed to go to a smaller club. Right now he is probably the 5th. Choice at a two player position and when Chelsea gets back in the buying market (January?) he will disappear. Don’t know who helped him make his choice but they did him a disservice. Needs to go where he can play every game. Hope he gets a real chance somewhere.

    Reply
  3. The ball seems to get through Pulisic when he presses. This is the weakness I have seen. Offensive skills are strong, but so are Willian’s Pedro’s Mounts. Then you add some players coming back from injuries…tough to get in this team. Then again, no one is performing at a Hazard level, so things could improve for Pulisic long term? Chelsea back line underwhelms.

    Reply
  4. Everyone here seems to be questioning Pulisic. Chelsea is in 11th place. Their record is not very good. If they don’t improve, Lampard may not last the season. Maybe Chelsea fans should be questioning Lampard’s choices. William is better than Pulisic, but he also starts for Brazil; he is definitely world class. Ross Barkley has started often, when healthy, for England. He also sat on the bench today. While it would be better if Pulisic were playing more, I wouldn’t get so worried this early in the season when Lampard’s coaching is still suspect.

    Reply
    • I’m totally glad you brought up the subject of Lampard, and I’ve been trying very hard to be objective in my posting earlier. Honestly, I do not think highly of Frank NFL Lampard, NFL stands for Not For Long, as a manager, nor I think highly of him as a NYCFC player. His manager decision making has been very doubtful to say the least.

      Reply
  5. Willian is good but doesn’t create chances on the other hand Mount didn’t create much either mount does have more defensive qualities but I do think pullisic can create more than mount but unfortunately in england they will always look down on the American player. When pullisic does get his next chance I know he will be much more aggressive by shooting for goal but I think lampard sees him as one his most unpopular options of the bench. It is concerning he left the us team early to be with Chelsea and had no playing for three games.

    Reply
    • Good call on him leaving early only to sit the bench. That is crap.

      Big difference btwn our guy and Mount is that Mount has taken his chances early on. Put the ball in the back of the net, the perception changes.

      Reply
  6. If I was Canadas coach I would be harassing Fikayo Tomori to do a one time switch. He is not good enough for England in my opinion. Canadas defense is weak and he could be somewhat of a boost.

    Reply
  7. He is out of form and he was awful in the Mexico friendly and allowed Dest to get nut megged! I had been shaking my head on why Lampard did not start Willian over him in the first place. Willian is just a better player atm and is always consistant!??‍♂️

    Reply
  8. Regardless of how Lampard characterizes the situation, its not a good start for Pulisic. It doesn’t take long for a manager to form an assesment and rank the player in the pceking order. Once that happens, it is very, very difficult to change that coaches opinion. If Pulesic does not get playing time soon, his stay at Chelsea could be short lived.

    Reply
  9. I’ve been thinking how Pulisic can get more first team minutes at Chelsea. He actually played quite well the past few games for Chelsea right before the recent international break and right before Willian recovered back to 100% fitness. Pulisic may not have showed as much aggressiveness and desire to score goals as Mason Mount, Pedro and Willian who have been ahead of Pulisic on the pecking order according to Frank Lampard’s likings, but not even a single minute in 2 games for a talented young player Chelsea was willing to have paid $68M Pounds for his services? How can Pulisic get at least some first team minutes? Should he be more selfish and look for more opportunities to take a shot at goal to score like Mason Mount. Has Pulisic been too contented or comfortable to create opportunities and assists for other teammates instead of scoring for himself? Should he pay more attention and study films on his off the ball movements and hove rover inside the box (like a high scoring Raheem Sterling) to have a higher chance to score, since Azpilicueta always overlaps on the right side of the pitch? I’m extremely frustrated and concerned about Pulisic’s situations. What do the USMNT fans think on how Pulisic can improve his first team minutes?

    Reply
    • Willian was never unfit nor injured at the beginning of the season? Where are you getting that from? He even came on as a sub for Pulisic every time Pulisic started.

      Reply
      • Hamstring injury did not play in the preseason and then sat out game one of EPL. Mostly just he was slow to return after playing in Copa America but officially it was called a hamstring injury.

Leave a Comment