Christian Pulisic's first home goal for Chelsea since April ensured that Graham Potter would get his first home league win in one attempt. The American's delightful dink over Jose Sa gave the Blues the two-goal buffer they needed but deserved against Wolves and allowed for a second-half experiment and send off ahead of a massive trip to the San Siro on Tuesday night.
For the 24-year-old, his inclusion from the off was reason enough to celebrate. Before playing against Wolves he had made just one start in the previous nine matches and played only 160 league minutes this season. His 72 minutes at Stamford Bridge acted as a start to reviving his Chelsea career.
With a goal and an assist across the last two matches, one being a six-minute cameo against Crystal Palace, Pulisic needs to impress Potter when he's given the chance. He was an unused substitute in midweek against AC Milan but came into the Blues XI against Wolves.
READ MORE : Four things learned as Havertz, Pulisic and Broja vindicate Potter in Chelsea win vs Wolves
His relationship with the fans has become fractured across 12 months in which his form on the pitch has dropped and Thomas Tuchel was backed. Although the winger has a decent enough return in that time, especially considering his lack of minutes and the movement around the pitch, often used as a wingback, he hasn't hit the heights for a player with the promise he had.
Things went downhill even further when a section of his book criticised Tuchel for his management across the Champions League semi-final in 2021 against Real Madrid. Potter's appointment once again offered him a complimentary clean slate, but really both parties are still angling for a move away.
Unhelpfully for Pulisic, who would benefit from time out of the spotlight as he tries to let performances on the pitch across a gruelling six-week period do the talking, United States legend Eric Wynalda has made his feelings clear on the treatment of the American ace.
During the Wolves match, US legend Wynalda tweeted: "For the record - I’m finally noticing the pure bias on the broadcast - every time Pulisic does anything it’s “horribly horribly wrong“. If an English player makes a similar play it’s a very different explanation. Pretty incredible."
Just under 45 minutes later, Pulisic scored, Chelsea celebrated and a big burden had been lifted. Having been selected over Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Armando Broja, there was a point to prove for the USMNT star.
His opening half an hour was typically Pulisic though, but that can be excused partly down to a lack of match practice. After a quiet start he grew into the game from the left wing and tested Sa with a brilliant curling effort. Whilst his impact on the game grew his end product lacked, but that changed in the second half with a goal that has drawn comparisons to Eden Hazard.
Wynalda's comments soon looked outdated as praise for Pulisic's reaction spread across social media and commentary. Considering the shoes of Sterling he had to fill, his ability to produce with a brilliant goal has impressed fans that are still hopeful he can reproduce some of the glimpses from his early Chelsea career more consistently.
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