Tag: Chelsea FC

Christian Pulisic shares encouraging message after suffering hamstring injury

That’s a good sign.

Christian Pulisic’s debut season with Chelsea came to a bit of a sour end on Saturday after the 21-year-old USMNT star suffered a hamstring injury in the second half of the FA Cup Final.

Pulisic, who had been Chelsea’s most dangerous attacking threat since the restart, opened the scoring with an early goal and looked to be on his way for a potential second goal before suffering the hamstring injury mid-run (he managed to get a shot off despite being injured).

After the match, which Arsenal won 2-1, manager Frank Lampard called Pulisic’s injury a hamstring strain and ruled him out for Saturday’s Champions League second leg against Bayern Munich. But with a short layoff between the start of the 2020-21 season, there was concern that Pulisic’s injury could jeopardize the start of next season.

Well, Pulisic’s latest Instagram post should ease those worries.

On Sunday, Pulisic posted his reaction to the FA Cup Final and said that he’ll “be back in no time.”

While we don’t know the grade of Pulisic’s strain yet, that’s obviously an encouraging sign that Pulisic doesn’t anticipate a long absence.

Unless Chelsea can overcome a 3-0 aggregate deficit against Bayern, Pulisic’s debut Chelsea season will end with 11 goals in all competitions. The future is bright in West London.

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Olivier Giroud pushed his Chelsea teammate away in order to celebrate with Christian Pulisic

My heart.

Ever since the Premier League returned to play from the coronavirus stoppage, Christian Pulisic, in particular, has been on a tear with Chelsea.

The 21-year-old USMNT star missed six months due to injury and the aforementioned stoppage, but he’s been arguably Chelsea’s best — at least, most dangerous — player over the past four weeks. And the respect he’s earned from his Chelsea teammates couldn’t have been more apparent than this hilarious exchange from Tuesday’s must-win match against last-place Norwich City.

Late in the first half stoppage time, Pulisic delivered a brilliant cross that was headed by Olivier Giroud for a goal. But keep an eye on Giroud after the goal.

The objectively handsome French striker went towards Pulisic to celebrate, but Jorginho attempted to be the first to greet Giroud. Instead, Giroud *playfully* shoved Jorginho away in order to first celebrate with Pulisic who assisted the goal.

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Yeah! Back off, Jorginho.

That goal ended up being the difference in the match as Chelsea looks to hold off Manchester United, Leicester City and Wolves in a crowded race for the final Champions League spots.

Oh, and Pulisic came close to scoring a goal of the year candidate.

That would’ve been special.

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Christian Pulisic scored the tying goal in his first Chelsea appearance since January

Captain America is back.

The English Premier League made its return earlier in the week as “Project Restart” went in full swing, and come Sunday, it was Christian Pulisic’s turn to take the pitch for the first time in six months.

Despite Chelsea dominating the opening 45 minutes of its Sunday match against Aston Villa, the Blues went into half down, 1-0. In the 55th minute, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard brought on the USMNT star — who had last appeared for Chelsea on Jan. 1 since suffering a hip injury — off the bench.

And, well, Pulisic’s impact was felt immediately.

Less than five minutes after coming in as a substitute, Pulisic scored on a left-footed volley off a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta.

It was Pulisic’s seventh goal of the season with Chelsea. And just two minutes later, Olivier Giroud provided Chelsea with the go-ahead goal for the 2-1 win.

With a huge match upcoming against Manchester City on Thursday, it wasn’t necessarily a surprise to see Lampard have usual attacking starters like Pulisic and Tammy Abraham come off the bench. Following the match, the Chelsea manager had rave reviews for the 21-year-old American.

Via nbcsports.com:

“I hope so. He was hungry. I know that. I felt for him, as I’ve felt for the players with long term injuries. Ruben 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 all season.

“The 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. 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.”

We can expect to see a lot more of Pulisic in the coming weeks as Chelsea looks to hold onto a Champions League spot.