Christian Pulisic has adapted to Graham Potter's new wingback role much better than Raheem Sterling, says former USA star Eric Wynalda.
The American was used in a makeshift role again by Potter during the 4-1 loss to Brighton but it wasn't the orthodox wingback role that Thomas Tuchel often set him out in. Instead of acting as the standard up-and-down the flanks player, Pulisic and Sterling weren't relied on defensively in a move that saw the Seagulls tear Chelsea apart.
Unfortunately for Pulisic, who started just his third game under Potter, his relative improvement to the performances seen late under Tuchel have been largely overshadowed by poor league results in past week for the Blues.
READ MORE: Four things learned as Graham Potter falls to first Chelsea defeat versus Brighton
Since an exciting cameo against Brentford, Pulisic has played in all three matches in the league that have seen just two points taken from three matches alongside a Champions League victory he started as well.
Wynalda was critical of the attitude shown by Sterling on the opposite side though, saying, “Sterling played wing-back once and that did not go well at all," he told VegasInsider. "There were a lot of looks to the bench. There was ‘I can't defend’. 'I should be up there where Mount’s playing’. 'Put me up there I don’t wanna be here’. His ego really was the reason why that hasn’t happened again.
"Pulisic is saying ‘I'll play, I got it. Let’s go’ and that’s why we got to see him at wingback. He got an assist out of the game where he came inside to pick up the ball which might be him indicating to his manager that he needs more of the ball and he doesn’t want to be chasing the ball. He wants to have the ball."
Pulisic was expected to leave the club over the summer after falling out of Tuchel's first-team plans. No transfer was possible though and he now faces uncertainty as to what comes next. With Christopher Nkunku expected to join Chelsea after a pre-agreement was reached with RB Leipzig, Pulisic will have more competition for his spot next season and there is still interest in Rafel Leao too.
Wynalda believes he still needs to get a move away from Stamford Bridge. "Long-term future he needs to be a left winger in a team where he’s going to get more time," he added. "I would not mind seeing Christian Pulisic wearing the black and white stripes of Newcastle.”
Eddie Howe's side were one of the teams interested in signing the 24-year-old over the summer but couldn't justify his pricetag. With Todd Boehly being open to swap deals, there could be a chance that Chelsea try to use Pulisic to sweeten a deal for either Bruno Guimaraes or Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Brazilian is on the list of midfield options looked at by the Blues and Saint-Maximin has been a long-term option for the winger spot too. Just as Chelsea sold Timo Werner to Leipzig in the summer and later found an early agreement for Nkunku, perhaps a similar piece of business could work with Newcastle and Pulisic.
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