Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Christian Pulisic remains sidelined with an ankle problem.
The American international will not be in the matchday squad for the match against Malmo this evening, and Tuchel has explained why it is taking so long for the winger to get back to full fitness:
“Right now we are very, very close. He was so close to coming to team training last week and had a little setback and reaction, with pain. Nothing serious. From there on we go. He is very impatient, of course, and he does everything and we can see him suffer in every meeting. And every time we meet him here [at the training ground] he is really suffering and he wants to be on the pitch and help us. Everybody is doing their very best. Unfortunately, the injury takes its time.”
Pulisic has been sidelined for over a month after picking up the injury whilst on international duty and supporters on Twitter are losing patience with the 23-year-old:
He's made of straw ffs
— ︻デr̷o̷c̷k̷y̷ ̷r̷e̷e̷c̷e̷══━一🇰🇪 (@_rockyreece) October 19, 2021
Feel bad for the lad
— David Kirba (@Lopitialoteka) October 19, 2021
Sell him it makes no sense
— CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE ⭐️⭐️ (@carlo_762) October 19, 2021
This is not what we meant when we said "Hazard successor" 😕
— AnonRants (@AnonRants13) October 19, 2021
Body deteriorating at 23. Time to sell. This experiment has run its course.
— Technocratic-Keynesian (@CaptainJacobo) October 19, 2021
Waste of Talent
— Nana Yaw (@space_isaac) October 19, 2021
The words Glass Cannon comes to mind. He is having a very similar trajectory to Robben right now. We know he's brilliant but just unreliable. He may be sold and go on to achieve bigger things once he masters his fitness
— Jay N (@bridged_n) October 19, 2021
Need to sell ,will never be fit for long enough periods
— gary williams (@willow2807) October 19, 2021
Since signing from Borussia Dortmund for £58m, the American has had eleven separate injuries which has meant he has spent 335 days on the sidelines; almost a whole year.
In terms of matches, Pulisic has missed 38 in total; the same as an entire Premier League season. Considering his talent and potential, it is extremely frustrating to see him out of action for so long. If he is close to returning as Tuchel says, hopefully he can stay available for a lengthy period of time.