Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic confident he will rediscover his scoring touch after Newcastle win
Christian Pulisic helped set up Marcos Alonso’s winner as Chelsea secured another win at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Christian Pulisic is confident he will rediscover his “scoring touch” after helping Chelsea to victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
The American has largely been a bit-part player at Stamford Bridge this season, struggling to force his way into Frank Lampard‘s side.
Introduced just after the hour mark this weekend, however, Pulisic’s driving run and pass inside to Callum Hudson-Odoi helped create space for Marcos Alonso, who fired home the game’s only goal, and the winger said after the game that he is confident he can build on his promising cameo.
“It was a really good game, happy for the team, had a strong performance, they defended really well, and I was happy to make an impact,” Pulisic told ESPN after the match.
“[Lampard] told me to do exactly what I’m doing now, continue to train hard, when I get my opportunity I have to take it.”
Chelsea have built around youth this season, with key roles for Fikayo Tomori at the back, Mason Mount in midfield and Tammy Abraham leading the line.
Yet Pulisic, similarly tender at just 21 despite several seasons as a role player at previous club Borussia Dortmund, has thus far been unable to truly ingratiate himself, with the return of Hudson-Odoi seemingly pushing him further down the pecking order.
But Lampard hinted that the American may be more involved in the weeks to come.
“I am really pleased for him,” Lampard said after a victory that lifted his side into the top four of the Premier League.
“He is a hot topic because of his national team. Everyone has got carried away with the short term but in the long term there is a lot more to come.
“I am delighted for him. He will feel good about that and he should do.”
Pulisic was heavily involved after coming on, with his injection into the game crucial in allowing Chelsea to secure the win.
He did, however, eschew a good shooting opportunity in favour of feeding Tammy Abraham, who was denied by a fine block from Pulisic’s international teammate DeAndre Yedlin.
“I was going to shoot last-second, but I saw Tammy wide open and then DeAndre made an unbelievable block, so maybe I should have shot it,” Pulisic admitted.
“I just don’t have that scoring touch but I know it will come back.”
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