Ahead of Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace, Graham Potter acknowledged the relationship between Christian Pulisic and his predecessor Thomas Tuchel had at times been frosty.
“I can only comment on him in terms of how he’s been with me,” Chelsea manager Potter said of the USMNT star. “Really positive, he’s an intelligent guy, articulate, knows how to express himself.
“My conversation with him has been good and positive, I’m not going to judge anybody on what has happened in the past, I’m going to make my own mind up. Football hopefully decides.”
Pulisic has been out of favor before with Chelsea, and has always managed to fight his way back. His game-winning assist against Palace, then, could be the start of another fightback for the USMNT star. Or it could be a false dawn.
That assist did come from Pulisic’s favored left-wing position, rather than the wingback spot he’s played so often this season. If Potter at least gives Pulisic a chance at his best position, then the American star will back himself to prove his worth. Football hopefully decides.