Fans urge Pulisic quit Chelsea
US fans are urging Christian Pulisic to leave Chelsea after he failed to get off the bench in the team's 3-0 Champions League win against AC Milan Wednesday night.
Pulisic has endured a tough beginning to the season, as he's started just one match in all competitions for Chelsea, and Wednesday was another lowlight for the American.
The winger was heavily linked away from the club in the summer after Raheem Sterling arrived, and has more recently been rumored as a target for Juventus and AC Milan.
And now fans are advising him to look elsewhere for playing time after an inauspicious start to Graham Potter's reign as manager.
'Chelsea supporters want Pulisic out. US supporters want Pulisic out. Pulisic wants Pulisic out. A change is needed post-World Cup,' one fan said.
'January can’t come fast enough,' another one said. 'Rather he’s a starter at a small club then an average squad player at a big club.'
Another insisted a January transfer was necessary, writing: 'His career at chelsea is finished. Desperately needs a move in January, and have a new start elsewhere.'
One fan had a more constructive piece of commentary on the American's situation.
'He should go to another someone [sic] he plays to his strength. Dribbling and quickness like Serie A or LaLiga. A league where being slight isn’t used against you,' they said.
At least two others touted the completely unfounded conspiracy theory that Chelsea are sabotaging Pulisic to hurt the US’s World Cup chances.
That idea becomes an even more curious suggestion once you remember the club's owner, Todd Boehly, is American.
'You know do u think Chelsea is sabotaging Pulisic and making sure he is not in form for the WC especially if they are playing england?' one person floated.
Another questioned: 'With the World Cup just around the corner do you think there’s a chance that Chelsea FC are looking to limit Christian Pulisic‘s playing time in an effort put Reduce his effectiveness/ form against england and Wales when the games stat? Or am i just being paranoid?'
'i’m convinced england is so scared of Pulisic in the World Cup, they have an agenda in the ePL to not play him so he doesn’t get reps,' another said.
While one claimed: 'They're deliberately not giving him game time so that he's rusty for the World Cup. Making USA weaker and life easier for england.'
One suggested that Potter favors the english players in Chelsea's squad as they said: 'Weird how Potter rates all the english players, regardless of performance, but doesn't rate the American player who england will have to face despite the American being an instrumental part in the Premier League win on Saturday that Chelsea desperately needed.'
Despite the calls for Pulisic to leave, there is perhaps reason for a hint of optimism.
With Chelsea playing a whopping eight more matches this month, one would think the American gets a start or two - though earning playing time is far from a foregone conclusion on Chelsea's deep squad.
The US kickstart their campaign in Qatar against Wales on November 21 and will gear up to the rivalry clash against england on Black Friday, November 25.
Pulisic was given a wake-up call by Thierry Henry earlier on Wednesday night after being an unused substitute, with the Arsenal legend urging the USMNT talisman to 'show something' amid a rocky start to the season.
'At one point you're gonna have to bring something on the table,' Henry said of Pulisic on CBS Sports.
'How many managers are not going to trust you? it's gonna have to be you at one point. So find a way.'
Pulisic has now played under three Chelsea managers - Potter, Tuchel and Frank Lampard, and has seen his number of starts dwindle each year since the latter's first season in charge.
Pulisic has put up respectable numbers, with 25 Chelsea goals to his name in all competitions, but started just 13 Premier League games last season and was linked away from the club last summer after the arrival of Raheem Sterling. —Dailymail.