Christian Pulisic returned to the headlines for Chelsea after injuries kept him out for all but one game in 2020 and his manager is certainly happy to have him back.
The American superstar came on as a second half substitute and waited less than five minutes before tying the game with his sixth Premier League goal of the season and first since November.
The goal was a true display of one of Pulisic’s main midfield talents: his ability to make runs off the ball and create space for himself in threatening areas. In this instance, Pulisic saw space at the back post and booked it to make it onto the end of Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross before volleying it into the back of the net with his left foot.
It was one of the finer goals of Pulisic’s career. It took awareness to notice the Aston Villa defenders turning away from him and speed to get into the dangerous spot. It took coordination to locate the cross and latch his foot onto it for an impressive finish.
The move impressed Frank Lampard, who praised Pulisic’s off-ball movement and promised that we will see more of him during this hectic sprint to the end of the Premier League season.
“There is a difference between being a very good attacking player off the side or the players at the real top level of the game who arrive and score in the six yard box and hit big numbers yearly,” Lampard said after the game. “I really think Christian can do that. I was really pleased with him and the impact he had when he came on. He will start games for us, of course, and I think he’s going to be a big player for us. Not just in this run-in but obviously going forward.”
Pulisic’s strong performance was about more than the goal. His long passing was on target and he managed to take a pair of other shots during his 35 minutes on the field. He also contributed defensively as Villa attempted to get a late equalizer.
“I’m really glad that I could come in and help the team in any way I could. Luckily today it was with a goal,” Pulisic said.
“I don’t think I hit it perfect with my left. Luckily I got enough on it just to steer it on target.”
Pulisic was just rounding into form when an abductor injury derailed his debut season at Chelsea. His last game before Sunday was on New Year’s Day, when he went 66 minutes against Brighton & Hove Albion. The injury was thought to be minor at the time it turned into one of those nagging knocks that are difficult to truly recover from.
It’s hard to say that a global pandemic can help anyone, but Pulisic benefited from the hiatus. It allowed him the time to get healthy in order to come back for the final leg of the season as the Blues chase a Champions League spot next season.
“I felt for him, as I’ve felt for the players with long-term injuries,” Lampard said. “Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] is in the same position. I know Christian was very hungry. He’s trained well and the ability he has got to arrive in the box, it is a big thing I’ve spoken about with him about all season.”
Lampard’s praises are hardly necessary when it comes to assessing the need for Pulisic to make in impact in the next month. Chelsea, as any club competing for a European place in this unprecedented environment, will need all the depth they can muster if they want to hold onto a top four position.
It’s a situation that would have given Pulisic plenty of playing time anyway, but taking only five minutes to score a crucial equalizing goal after your team scuttled along the Villa Park pitch for 55 minutes will go a long way towards ensuring that extra playing time leads to something consistent when the league returns to a more normal schedule.
Starts are never promised. By anyone. Lampard coaches to earn a living, not to appease supporters.
He said starts will come. Said CP is a key player.
You need to understand the terminology though. Head coaches in the premier league don’t promise starts. They’re awarded based on merit. Luckily for us, CP both has the merit, and is cut out for this challenge.
And to be clear, you’re not just misquoting Lampard (why would you deliberately do that anyway?), you’re diminishing yourself.
Lampard says, “He will start games for us, of course, and I think he’s going to be a big player for us.”
What’s amazing about him is that he has a nose for the net. Very few Americans have had this talent, and it’s so great to see him play because of it.
I love Dempsey, but Pulisic is already much more skilled than him..
Not to take anything away from CP22, but at the beginning I thought he looked rusty. His first couple of passes were off target. One, at midfield at the beginning of a promising attack, he passed behind Mason Mount, leading to a turnover. Just a couple of minutes later he scored so that was forgotten. Still, I think his passing was not as good as he is capable of. His potential is such, though, that I think he could be close to the equal of Eden Hazard by the time he’s through.
My guess is that he is saving him for Thursday since this is only the first day back (especially from injury).
Lampard could have added that while Chelsea had a lot of possession in the first half but few good chances. Enter Pulisic and within 5 minutes he scores. Within about 10 minutes, Chelsea scores again. Not Pulisic this time but nobody can deny that the team plays better when hes on the field and not on the bench
I think his runs open up the defense. He not only creates chances, he opens up spaces for his teammates. He is sort of a combination of Dempsey and Donovan–speedy like Donovan and almost as skilled as Dempsey. In a year or two he’ll probably be as skilled as Dempsey was.