Christian Pulisic lucky to return to Chelsea and Frank Lampard

Life after missing the World Cup has been harsh on Christian Pulisic. But all things considered, he is lucky to return to Chelsea and Frank Lampard.

Far too many people were able to correctly predict that the USMNT would smash Cuba and then slip up against Canada. Fewer would have thought the United States would completely capitulate against a side that had not beaten them since the 80s. It was one of, if not the lowest moments since the United States failed to qualify for the last World Cup.

That night two years ago back in Trinidad and Tobago was surely one of Christian Pulisic’s worst nights as a player. The intervening time has not been any kinder to Pulisic. The entire team was playing poorly, but Pulisic was pulled at the hour mark to intense frustration. USMNT manager and Pep Guardiola wannabe Gregg Berhalter said Pulisic had “flu like symptoms” for several days. That did not stop Berhalter from selecting Pulisic in the starting XI though.

This is undoubtedly one of the lowest points of Pulisic’s career. For the first time, he has to truly fight for a place at his club team. He is at his first new club since becoming a professional. And the national team that tread water for a year only to hire the brother of an executive that was always going to be hired is as languid as it has been in recent memory. But Pulisic does have one thing going for him; Frank Lampard is his manager.

That may come off as counter intuitive after the US media decided they liked Pulisic again long enough to zero in on comments he made about his lack of playing time. After all, it is Lampard who is opting not to play Pulisic when he seeming could be over the likes of Willian or Pedro.

But Lampard made it clear early on that effort in training will equal playing time. It is also very worth keeping in mind that Pulisic is in a brand new country and league which is always a difficult adjustment. He also went straight from an injury plagued season at Dortmund to the Gold Cup and then went straight into Chelsea preseason after that. The simple fact that he may be fatigued is rarely mentioned in the discourse around his lack of minutes.

More than anything, however, is that Lampard will get it. Lampard will understand a player being frustrated by a lack of opportunities and a constant spotlight. Lampard will understand frustration at being subbed off before anyone else despite the entire team struggling. And knowing that Lampard’s man management, it would not be at all shocking for him to sit Pulisic down and simply talk to him for as long as is necessary about what he can do to improve his situation for both club and country.

Chelsea this season is not a club of philosophy or aloof managers. Lampard will not hesitate to remind players who the boss is, but he is also very willing to put his arm around their shoulder and tell them things will be okay. Things may not be going all that great for Pulisic right now, but he is coming back to a good place to turn that around.