Just in time for November World Cup Qualifying, Chelsea midfielder and U.S. men’s national team midfielder Christian Pulisic has returned to the pitch.
Pulisic entered Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League group stage win over Malmo FF in the 74th minute, playing for Chelsea for the first time since August 14. Pulisic suffered an ankle injury Sept. 9 while on international duty with the USMNT in a 4-1 win over Honduras.
Pulisic has only made one Premier League appearance, having missed two matches with COVID-19 prior to the ankle injury. Tuesday’s minutes made for his first UEFA Champions League appearance of the year and end a two-month spell on the sidelines.
In the dying moments of the match, Pulisic had an excellent breakaway chance to seal the win but couldn’t manage to shoot on target after rounding the goalkeeper.
Pulisic’s return comes with perfect timing, as the USMNT prepares to face Mexico Nov. 12 in World Cup Qualifying. All of a sudden, the USMNT’s options at winger on either side look much better with Pulisic and the Seattle Sounders’ Jordan Morris returning from injury.
You don’t need game condition to play 16 minutes and he missed a 1v1 agains the keeper.
On the other hand he didn’t get injured. That’s always an unexpected bonus.
It’s great to see Pulisic getting 16 minutes of Champions League actions this afternoon. It’s clear that CP10 didn’t quite have the game condition and legs under him yet because he was slipping and sliding on the pitch numerous times today. On the late chance that Pulisic came close to score, he was offside, and would have been called off by VAR even if he did score. All in all, a good outing after a long absence.
Some of that, but did you notice how torn up the field was in the penalty area? Possible that he had the wrong studs on his boots too? Also, he was on side.