The World Cup is now in full swing with eight of 104 matches already being played, and plenty have already caught the eye. It was a former Chelsea player who won the attention of Olivier Giroud.
Mexico, South Korea, Scotland, the United States and Australia have all tasted victory so far, while there have been three draws between Switzerland and Qatar, Brazil and Morocco, and Canada and Bosnia.
Looking back at Christian Pulisic’s time at Chelsea, how would you desrcibe it?🤔
There has already been plenty to dissect, with the three home nations enjoying positive results. Indeed, Mauricio Pochettino’s United States are the only team to score four goals in the competition so far.
In what was billed as a close encounter that might be ruled by home advantage, the USMNT put South American opponents Paraguay to the sword with a 4-1 win. Christian Pulisic played his part in the match.
Olivier Giroud likens Christian Pulisic to Eden Hazard
It is three years since Chelsea sold Pulisic to Milan for £20m, after an indifferent spell in which the American showed glimpses but could never really build any momentum. Injury hampered his Blues stint.
He left the club having had a hand in 47 goals in 145 appearances, many of which were off the bench. The USA skipper has been immense since leaving Chelsea, producing 69 goals and assists in 134 Milan games.
He started against Paraguay and while he was taken off at half-time as a precaution with USA leading the game 3-0, he made his mark. He nabbed an assist for the first of Folarin Balogun’s brace on the night.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Pulisic’s former Chelsea and Milan teammate Giroud said: “He reminded me of Eden Hazard; the way he took on opponents and found it easy to dribble past people.
“I played as a target man, I needed some pace and movement around me – someone like [Pulisic] playing in the pocket between the lines and getting on the ball, looking for me and feeding off my flick-ons.
“I was not surprised at how well he played against Paraguay because I think that he has got what it takes to take the U.S. team to the next level over the next few weeks,” Giroud said when analysing Pulisic.
“I have always thought the USA are lucky to have him, because he has skill and intelligence. At Milan we used to call him by his nickname, ‘Captain America’,” the current Lille striker continued this weekend.
“Even when he wasn’t wearing the USA armband he was their star player, with the biggest profile. No one is expecting the USA to win the World Cup, but if they are going to reach the knockout stage, he is key.”
What Christian Pulisic has said about his time at Chelsea
It felt like it should have been so much more during his stint at Chelsea, and had he remained injury-free, it might have been. There is no doubting that a fit and firing Pulisic can be one of Europe’s best attackers.
Jose Mourinho has told SIX Real Madrid players they can leave 👀
Would you take any of these at Chelsea?
- Eduardo Camavinga
- Rodrygo Goes
- Franco Mastantuono
- Fran Garcia
- Raul Asencio
- Dani Ceballos
Even at Milan this season, he has proven that. Eight goals and four assists in 30 Serie A games, while in a struggling Milan side is solid form. It is a case of what if, rather than perhaps Chelsea making a mistake.
On his Chelsea spell, Pulisic recently said: “My reaction would be to show them my Champions League medal and show them a couple of highlights and maybe show them the hat tricks.”
This is a player that is capable of being among Europe’s elite, but injury and a lack of momentum have hampered that. Perhaps, this summer, Pulisic can finally prove himself to be a lot better than most think.
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