How Successful Has Christian Pulisic’s First Season At Chelsea Been?

Billed as the £58 million replacement for the outgoing Eden Hazard as well as the first true American soccer superstar of his generation, the pressure was weighted on Christian Pulisic’s shoulders from the first moment he walked through the door at Stamford Bridge as a Chelsea player last summer. 

Indeed, Pulisic wasn’t just another mega-money Premier League
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transfer. He was America’s first real offering to the elite level of a sport they have longed to crack. Of course, Pulisic had already proven himself as a top tier talent at Borussia Dortmund, but last summer’s switch to Chelsea sent the 21-year-old into the soccer stratosphere.

At first, it all seemed a little much for the Pennsylvania native. Frank Lampard overlooked Pulisic for the majority of Chelsea’s opening fixtures, leading to speculation that the Blues boss had concerns over the American’s commitment in training. Given that Pulisic cut short his summer off-season to prepare for life at Chelsea, these were allegations never added up.

An away game against Burnley proved to be a turning point for Pulisic as a Chelsea player, netting a hat-trick in a 4-2 win at Turf Moor. It was here where the Premier League was afforded its first real glimpse of the American at his devastating best, sparking a run of impressive form from the youngster.

Over September, October and November, Pulisic found the back of the net six times, also contributing three assists for good measure. It was over this purple patch that his role at Chelsea became somewhat clearer, giving balance to the Blues on the left side of a three-prong attacking line. 

His direct running and pace gave Lampard something that he had previously lacked. Stylistically, Pulisic is a very different sort of player to Hazard, but the American is a difference-maker just like his Belgian predecessor. That became clear in the space of just a few matches over the autumn and into the winter.

An injury sustained at the start of the year put Pulisic on the sidelines, halting the momentum he had built up over the winter. That Chelsea have missed the creativity and directness of their new American star, suffering a dip in form over the first couple months of 2020, shows just how important he has become at Stamford Bridge.

“Yes, [we miss him] because he’s a quality player and was having a really good patch pre-Christmas,” Lampard admitted when asked to provide a timescale on when Pulisic might be back in action for Chelsea. “But others have to stand up, too. But, of course, we’ll be happy to have him back.”

Even still, more will be expected of Lampard going forward. Chelsea are a club with big ambitions. Despite their recent willingness to commit to a long-term squad reconstruction, the Blues will demand year-on-year progress until they are once again competing for major honours at the top of the domestic and European game.

Pulisic must find a way to sustain the form he charted over the winter over an entire season. Chelsea won’t wait around for the American to reach these levels. This is the pressure that comes with playing for a club near the top of the Premier League. There is always another option out there – see how Chelsea have signed right winger Hakim Ziyech from Ajax despite the emergence of Callum Hudson-Odoi on that side.

The young American’s first season in England has been something of a success, but it must only be the precursor to even greater things. Pulisic has so far coped with the pressure heaped on his shoulders. He is already the United States’ greatest ever soccer player. And yet the greatest mark of achievement will come when Pulisic ultimately transcends his nationality. He might not be so far from that point.