Chelsea: In-form Christian Pulisic soars for the Blues with new strategy

In-form Christian Pulisic’s new attacking style is bringing results for a winning Chelsea squad

In-form Christian Pulisic’s new attacking style is bringing results for the winning Chelsea squad. It hasn’t always been pretty, far from it, but Chelsea continues winning in its quest for Champions League Football in 2020-2021. One key reason is that American Christian Pulisic has taken his game to a new level since the restart. It hasn’t been an accident. There are several reasons for this emergence.

First, Pulisic is now healthy. After suffering a nasty muscle tear, returning quite likely too soon, and aggravating the situation, Pulisic now appears fully fit. The sabbatical during the coronavirus suspension of football for two months or so was just what the doctor ordered for Pulisic. He had time away from the game and no urgency to get back on the pitch. He could just heal. When he returned to the restart, he was fully ready to go physically. Clearly, that was the most important factor in his being able to get onto the pitch.

Second, it was quite clear that gaffer Frank Lampard, the ultimate observer of the squad, greatly valued and values the dynamic dimension that Pulisic adds to the attack. As a compliment to Willian’s driving pace and indefatigably, Pulisic provided a different approach with his dribbling abilities of high caliber, his pace, and his capacity to create for other players in attack. With Pulisic sidelined, Chelsea’s attack and output were severely negatively impacted and their goal-scoring ability diminished significantly. Head Coach Frank Lampard wasted no time in re-inserting Pulisic into the starting lineup upon the restart and it has paid big dividends.

But there is a third and even more technically important reason for Pulisic’s emergence in the past six games that in observing his current form seems incontrovertible. Christian has dramatically altered his style of play. That factor has been clearly observable in Pulisic’s form since the restart.  And it’s showing up on the score sheet in goals for the young American.

Earlier in the season, his first in the Premier League it is important to remember, Pulisic was seemingly content to be teammate oriented. His attacking objectives were centered more on creating and producing chances for teammates using his pace and tremendous dribbling ability. This took precedence early on rather than creating and finishing chances himself. But something evidently happened in Hershey, Pennsylvania that led to a change of direction and a monumental change in production.

Here is some speculation, during the suspension of play, Pulisic and his family (who themselves are accomplished footballers) took time to dissect and evaluate his play in great detail. It seems quite obvious that they were able to uncover his over tendency (quite understandable for a 20-year old first-year Premier League player) to dribble, move the ball sideways, and backward extensively to provide service to his teammates. This took precedence over his immediately driving or turning and driving the ball up field toward the goal with his pace and uncanny dribbling ability. The results of this change have been obvious on the score sheet.

Pulisic now has become a super threat and Chelsea’s greatest threat to move goal-ward every time he is in possession and to score. The results of this tactical change have been to put intense pressure on defenses, to occasion fouls and resulting free kicks and penalties. And of course, the most important result, to score goals regularly. This was clearly on display in his magnificent goal against Crystal Palace.

It has been wondrous to watch this transformation of Christian Pulisic from a good, technically capable player for Chelsea to their top offensive threat every time he touches the ball. But as noted above, this hasn’t been accidental. It was a predetermined change in tactics that has allowed Pulisic to put his game changing talents to their best use for the Chelsea Football Club.

The greatest aspect of all this is that he is just beginning to tap into his prodigious talents fully. When he is joined by other great talents on the horizon in the 2020-2021 season, it is going to be a joy to behold. One thing is clear, the best is yet to come for Christian Pulisic and the Chelsea Football Club. Buckle up the seat belts, it’s going to be a fun ride to lots of silverware.