The 2022 Premier League season has gotten off to just about the worst imaginable start for USMNT star and Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic. And if it wasn’t for Chelsea’s firing of manager Thomas Tuchel two weeks ago, the drama could have just reached astonishing levels.
While Pulisic is currently with the USMNT ahead of a couple pre-World Cup friendlies, an excerpt from his upcoming book — hilariously named, Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far — was made public on Tuesday, and it painted a clear picture of the 24-year-old’s less-than-ideal relationship with Tuchel.
The excerpt specifically focuses on Chelsea’s Champions League-winning campaign and the second leg against Real Madrid. In the first leg, Pulisic had scored arguably his biggest goal with the Blues. And according to Pulisic, Tuchel assured him that he was going to be rested in the weekend’s Fulham match in order to start him in the second leg against Madrid.
But when Pulisic checked the lineup for that second leg, he was on the bench in favor of Kai Havertz. Pulisic, as you might have guessed, was not pleased.
In his upcoming book, Christian Pulisic said he was 'dumbfounded and very disappointed' as he was expecting to start the second leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals based on a conversation he had with Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel changed his mind on match day. pic.twitter.com/sPVQj2J9EV
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) September 20, 2022
There’s certainly an argument to be made that Tuchel’s management worked in that situation, as a pissed-off Pulisic came on as a sub and iced the game with an incredible assist to Mason Mount.
Christian Pulisic's 🇺🇸-record seventh career @ChampionsLeague assist puts @ChelseaFC on the doorstep of the #UCL Final!
(@TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/m1uEX2LZDx
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) May 5, 2021
Still, it’s never great to mislead a player, and that sort of management from Tuchel ultimately led to disagreements with several Chelsea attacking players (Lukaku, Werner, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech to name a few) … and his eventual ouster.
But man, someone is giving Pulisic some terrible advice. The fact that he’s putting out a book so early in his career is a questionable decision in itself, and on top of that, he’s airing grievances related to the team he currently plays for. Just think: had Tuchel still been the manager when this excerpt came out, Pulisic might’ve never seen the field again with Chelsea.
There was literally no upside for Pulisic in putting that story out there during his active career — you know, save that for the post-career memoir after winning the 2026 World Cup. It won’t endear him to newly appointed manager Graham Potter, and it won’t have other managers looking too fondly on Pulisic in the transfer market.
Fans almost couldn’t believe that the excerpt was real.
This was how Twitter reacted
W-why would you put out a book detailing issues with your club while you are still,,,, playing at that club lol. I know Tuchel is gone but this feels *extremely* ill-advised https://t.co/GQnIuyCsQb
— Aaron West (@oeste) September 20, 2022
he… wrote a book that goes after the club he currently plays for?
sounds smart https://t.co/sgle51rAC9
— Adam Rosen (@arrosen76) September 20, 2022
"By the time he brought me on with about 25 minutes left, I was so wound up." Sounds like Tuchel's plan worked then. https://t.co/WNfsLa8ojz
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) September 20, 2022
Why don’t athletes write books so early on in their careers? Like Pulisic is 24, you’ve got a lot of football left. https://t.co/tZtFVEAU0F
— CFO (@CFOpinions) September 20, 2022
Everyone should get theirs but Pulisic writing a book airing grievances with his coach who conceivably might not have been fired when this came out seems like poor judgement. https://t.co/7ZVHRzoDJA
— Ted Schneider (@pilgrim_young) September 20, 2022
Couple of thoughts:
1) Not much of a book if this excerpt is what the publishers are pushing to drive up sales.
2) The way that is written by the ghostwriter feels very basic. https://t.co/8w6m5v9Kgs
— Trey Mongrue (@TreyMongrue) September 20, 2022
Probably should’ve just saved this for his diary https://t.co/GEpbIMb7bR
— Lindsey (@lindspehrson) September 20, 2022
sincerely wish tuchel had not been fired. would have been just absolutely incredible content. https://t.co/L4HluDyt8o
— jamie (@JamieMonck) September 20, 2022
who let this man publish a book https://t.co/uXDJyRPBlL
— Alex Shephard (@alex_shephard) September 20, 2022
Me when I’m at work tweeting about how much I hate work https://t.co/aUGtPFjW3d
— Shane Queen (@shxwnking) September 20, 2022
Publishing a tell-all book at 24 about his horrific experiences with a team he’s currently employed by is god-level job security 🫡 https://t.co/9eS16uZUrV
— dazzle 🤙🏽 (@dazzlinho) September 20, 2022
Christian Pulisic knows just what the world needs. First the GQ spread and now this? An American hero. https://t.co/yAQ4njjcII
— Joseph Lowery (@joeclowery) September 20, 2022
It’s going to be an interesting few days when he returns from the international break.
