Blues’ new-boy Pulisic is not fazed by the challenges ahead

WHEN Christian Pulisic pulls on a Chelsea shirt this summer, he will not labour under the weight of his £58million price tag.

Nor – with uncertainty surrounding Eden Hazard – will the 20-year-old concern himself with the Belgian being a tough act to follow.

Why should he?

Pulisic shrugged off a language barrier and the initial scepticism of his former Borussia Dortmund team-mates to become a star in

German football as a teenager.

He’d arrived there from the USA as a 16-year-old, knowing nobody and having to adapt to an entirely new environment. He went on to earn respect and his country’s captaincy, and is ready for the challenge at

Stamford Bridge.

“I try not to put too much pressure from the outside on myself,” he said. “I put enough pressure on myself to be good, to be great.

“That’s how I’ve always been. I’m very competitive, I want to be the best for myself. We also really do have other great players as well.

“I want to be successful, be part of this team, and make an impact. That’s my goals and to become the best player I can be.”

Pulisic does have one ambition – to prove US footballers have the quality to become A-listers in the Premier League. It shouldn’t be in doubt after the exploits of Clint Dempsey at Fulham, Brad Friedel at Blackburn, and Tim Howard at Everton.

Pulisic (with his USA team-mates, above) fears, however, there is still a negative perception problem around American stars in the European game.

He said: “It’s tough. Obviously, we have those other big sports in the US. Soccer has never been the main one and I think that’s a big goal of mine.

“That’s what I want to try to prove to people – that Americans can do it. We can do it, too.

“I just want to make a name and represent my country, definitely. So that we gain even more respect.” Pulisic is now with Chelsea after five years at Dortmund (left). He revealed he’d had to fight to earn respect when he first arrived at the Bundesliga club.

“It was tough at the beginning, as an American,” he said.

“I think, at the beginning, they think: ‘Who is this American trying to take my spot?’

“I don’t know that’s what they are thinking, but that’s how you look at it. You want to prove to them you are good enough.

“As soon as your team-mates see that, they are not thinking, ‘This guy’s American’. If they see you can play, they respect you, and they pass you the ball.”

With Hazard expected to seal a dream move to Real Madrid, the Belgian’s heir apparent Callum HudsonOdoi injured, and Chelsea facing a transfer ban, Pulisic could find himself the only new face in the close season.

As for his own favourite position, he added: “I can be very effective on either of the wings. I had a chance to play both this season, especially at Dortmund, and I’ve had experience playing as a 10 with the national team as well.

“So, really, any of the attacking positions, I feel comfortable in. But I’m probably most comfortable on the wings.”