Christian Pulisic has missed a number of games for Chelsea this season due to varying reasons, and will likely be out again this weekend.
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel told reporters on Friday that Pulisic is doubtful for Saturday’s encounter with Southampton due to calf tightness that the American winger felt at training on Thursday. Tuchel added that the Blues were not overly worried or concerned about the situation and that they are likely to hold him out of the road game simply as a preventative measure.
“He stopped training yesterday before it became an injury so I would not say that it is an injury at the moment,” said Tuchel. “It is risk management that relates to his history of having injuries so we do not want to enter in the same cycle.
“It is sometimes like this and the main thing for Christian is to stay positive, keep his head up and be ready because he can have a big impact when he starts and he can have a big impact when he comes from the bench with his intensity.”
Pulisic, 22, has missed a number of games this season for reasons ranging from injuries to personal matters to coach’s decision. He has made nine starts in 15 appearances in Premier League play in the current campaign, scoring one goal. The U.S. Men’s National Team attacker has also tallied once in two starts and three appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
“Chelsea bought Christian for a reason, for his quality and his potential so it is our job to bring out the best in him,” said Tuchel. “He proved in many weeks that he has the level to be a Chelsea regular player, to have a big impact at this club and it is a challenge now to maintain the level and to keep improving.”
Chelsea is currently in fourth place in England’s top tier, sitting on 42 points from 24 matches.
Not an encouraging development for USMNT fans. Is he going to be out as often as Altidore? Berhalter may have to make long term plans that do not assume his availability.
It totally sucks. Human body is mysterious science. When Pulisic went down with the hammie during the FA Cup Final last August, it reminded me of another super talented, speedy ex-forward in the 90’s, Michael Owens whom a long history of chronic muscle injuries robbed him of an even more glorious football career. I hope Pulisic can stay positive and continue to work hard. Just to be hypothetical here, if Pulisic’s body can’t handle playing regular 90 minutes day in day out, how about him becoming the world best “super sub” coming off the bench?
Not surprising… Pulisic has injured his calf several times over the past few seasons… seems like he’s not fully recovered from last season’s hamstring tear…. one injury leads to another…
PR move by Tuchel ahead of not playing him again especially since Havertz is now available. Calf tightness. Its midseason! If it was hammie tightness, id get it.
Chelsea machine has stunted yet another player. I hope his agent is strategizing a GTFO campaign.
LoL. Everything is not a conspiracy. In what universe is it a stretch to believe CP has sustained an injury? Or that resting a player coming off numerous consecutive injuries over years with muscle tightness is a suspect decision with ulterior motives? Sometimes it is, what it is. Actually most of the time. Calf injury is obviously relative to severity… but often related to compensation from a hamstring injury and/or can proceed an achilles injury. Trainer would be a much better person to speak with than an agent.
excellent post man, thank you rico po. Glad to see a manager not pressure him to play if he’s not fit. Re. CP specifically, hope he can find the happy medium of effectiveness and fitness with his explosiveness, and that Tuchel can help him learn to manage that better