Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has urged fans and the media to be patient about Christian Pulisic. The American international joined the Blues this summer in a £58m deal from Borussia Dortmund.
However, Pulisic has consistently found himself on the fringes under Lampard’s reign, with the Englishman preferring to use Callum Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount more frequently. Rumours regarding the 21-year-old’s frustration regarding lack of playing time have been quick to surface in the media.
And, Lampard has forayed forward to give a detailed peek into the matter.
“He’s level. I spoke to him two days before the Grimsby game and was very clear about the standards and we have to give him the fact that he’s moved country and moved leagues,” Lampard told reporters at Cobham Training Centre.
“He’s as young as all the young players we keep talking about. He’s just turned 21. So I think if anyone is getting too excited about this they should calm down because he’s started five games for us and what he needs to do is work, work daily, work to show within the group that he deserves to play.”
“As they all do, as all the players do. That’s what the focus on everyone is. This is one of my difficult problems in this job. I have good players and everyone has a story.”
“Christian Pulisic has a price tag. Ross Barkley is an international player. Mason Mount is an international player, Callum Hudson-Odoi just signed a new contract, Bayern Munich wanted to buy him last summer. He’s an international player.”
“We can all focus on Pulisic from the other day but Callum’s the same and I have to speak in the real world when I speak to them and sometimes as a manager you want more.”
“You have to be honest and the players have to react to that and Callum has now come on with two assists in the games that he’s come on and that’s what you want to keep pushing. I love the young players. I particularly love the young players because I want them to improve daily.”
“At the same time, sometimes I have to make harsh decisions and say something that I see can help their game but might not sound that nice because I want them to be the best, all of them. That’s what I want them to be. That’s part of the process.”
Chelsea will face Southampton in the league today and it remains to be seen if Pulisic makes the first team this time.
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