Pace, Precision, power, composure and raw talent are all words linked to one Hershey, Pennsylvania phenomenon and that is… Christian Pulisic.
The young 21-year-old American made his debut for Borussia Dortmund at the age of just 17, the third youngest in the cub’s history at that time under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel. He made, 127 appearances for the German club contributing 19 goals and 26 assists.
Jurgen Klopp was the manager when Dortmund acquired Pulisic as a teenager, before he departed to Anfield a few months later. The German manager had anything put praise on the American youngster, and even managed a slight smile as he fired in Chelsea’s third on Wednesday night.
"He's a fantastic player and it's deserved that people think highly of him in America in Germany it's the same” as quoted by ESPN back in 2017."
Dortmund to the Bridge
Pulisic was bought in the 2019 January transfer market for £57.6 million and then loaned back to Dortmund for the rest of the season until making the switch in the summer. The fee making him the most expensive American signing.
In that season for Dortmund, he only made 20 appearances, scoring 4 and provided just 4 assists. One of the factors was down to the arrival the arrival of the young English winger Jadon Sancho.
Many people questioned the transfer at the time, with Chelsea having some great attacking options within their ranks already and Pulisic was unproven with the lack of game time over in Germany.
However, he has proved pivotal thus far in his debut season for the Blues and manager Frank Lampard has only heaps of praise.
Fairy-tale first season?
Following the departure of Eden Hazard in the summer to Real Madrid. Many fans were looking for the next best thing with eyes being set on the new young American within their ranks.
Adapting to the Premier League is tough for any player, especially for a young 20-year-old. Pulisic made his debut for Chelsea as a sub in the 4-0 defeat to Manchester United. His first start was against Liverpool, in the UEFA Super Sup which the young Blues went onto lose in penalties.
In games to come Pulisic would flash moments of brilliance with dazzling runs and 'Hazard-esc' movements with and without the ball.
Back in October, the American hit the perfect hattrick against Burnley seeing the blues run out 4-2 winners, the first American to hit a hattrick in the premier league since Clint Dempsey for Fulham.
Moreover, in the turn of the new year, Christian picked up an adductor injury keeping him out the team for several months. However, with the Premier League being suspended in March due to the global pandemic of Covid-19 it allowed Chelsea’s new talisman to get back to full fitness.
Since the restart of the league, Pulisic has not just been Chelsea’s stand out player but one of the leagues top players. Having scored three goals, won two penalty kicks and has consistently been Man of the Match for Chelsea as Frank Lampard’s side push for a top four finish and the FA Cup. He has found his feet within the English topflight.
The New Captain America
Thanks to his goals and team contributions the blues fans have rightly nicknamed the young superstar ‘Captain America’ as he has shown week in week out a superhero’s performance.
The high-flying American, has got 10 goals and 10 assists this season in 32 appearances across all competitions, making him Chelsea third top goal scorer this season… not bad considering he missed a couple of months through injury.
The Outstanding play and professionalism shown by the American has been widely noticed by the Blues fans as they respond well to his direct dribbles and sharp movement.
Pulisic is a very different attacker to the likes of Willian and Pedro. He is very much like Hazard in the way he always wants to go forward and makes the defenders engage with him in order to draw a foul or skip by with his quick feet.
You could say he is untouchable, just like Captain America himself.
Lampard added in an interview:
"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 going forward.”
Pulisic’s future looks bright under the reign of Lampard at Chelsea, with attacking enforcements on the way with the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, Oppositions will tremble when they see that Blues front three running at them.
The American gives the young blues side a burst of energy, and belief that a goal will always be coming. He has shown glimpses off this season, an example is the impact he made the other night in their 5-3 defeat to the newly crowned champions Liverpool.
His flair and quick feet five Chelsea a new attacking dynamic, especially when he can be dispersed on either flank allowing for squad rotations and unpredictability for players.
Lampard Said in an interview.
"He's so young, he has such natural talent. He scores goals, he creates goals and he is a big player for us"
Christian Pulisic will have a bright future at Stamford Bridge…
Remember the name.