The start of every season or new spell of matches feels the same for a lot of Chelsea players. Runs of fixtures get filed under 'the most important of their career' or as 'defining periods' for their future, and for many of them, this may well be true.
The start of the 2022/23 season was key for the development of Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic more than most, with both players having a point to prove to themselves and Chelsea fans. The German has a sense of leeway due to his Champions League-winning goal and relative silence off the field. Pulisic is less fortunate.
The American has never quite become the player that he promised to spark into as a teenager at Borussia Dortmund, and his relationship with spectators at Stamford Bridge has become somewhat toxic. His goal against Wolves was a good way to start fresh under Graham Potter, but there's a long way to go before many would consider him part of the medium or long-term future of the club.
