Steve McManaman shared what Thomas Tuchel was ordering Christian Pulisic to do for Chelsea during their 0-0 draw with Leeds United, commentating for BT Sport.
Pulisic was starting his first Premier League game under Tuchel during the Blues’ stalemate at Elland Road last Sunday.
The young American endured a difficult week leading up the match, with uncertainties over his future emerging following his omission from another starting line for the win against Everton.
He was offered an opportunity to silence some of those doubts when Tuchel picked him from the off at Leeds.
Aside from a few decent crosses and the odd dribble, it wasn’t a ground-breaking afternoon for Pulisic, who was substituted after 65 minutes.
McManaman was on commentary duty and noticed what Chelsea’s manager was instructing his 22-year-old forward to do.
“We’ve got a really nice vantage point above Thomas Tuchel,” said the former Liverpool midfielder.
“You can hear and see him shouting at Pulisic to get up and wide.”
Most of Pulisic’s best work arrived when he was driving in from the right at Leeds’ left-back, Ezgjan Alioski.
Unfortunately, this action wasn’t a regularly occurrence for the Blues no.10, who fizzled out as the fixture went along.
But it’s positive strides for a player who may have been beginning to wonder where his Stamford Bridge story was taking him.
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I didn’t have high hopes for Pulisic going into the Leeds clash, and my caution was rightly received following his performance.
Understandably, he looked a little lost at times and was unable to stamp his authority on a pretty hectic match.
Fingers crossed this is just a settling in period and not a flash in the pan.
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