Following the publication of an excerpt from his upcoming autobiography, Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic has been warned about the ramifications of his ‘babyish’ comments about Thomas Tuchel.
In his book ‘Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far,’ the USMNT player claims he was ‘dumbfounded’ by Tuchel’s decision to replace him in favour of Kai Havertz for Chelsea’s second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in 2021.
And now the 24-year-old has been warned that Tuchel’may have words with other managers’ about his behaviour as a result of his ‘babyish’ attitude, and that he may have ‘destroyed’ his relationship with the German as a result.
Don Hutchison, a former Liverpool, West Ham, and Everton midfielder, told ESPN: “Oh, my days!” I mean, Christian Pulisic is extremely naive. Okay, it’s his book, so he believes he has a say against Thomas Tuchel, but is he not stupid enough to believe that Thomas Tuchel will be unhappy and will clash with other managers?
“Managers change their minds. What happens to you? You’re a little bit gutted, you’re a little bit upset. But it all just sounds a little bit babyish to me. Christian Pulisic having a whinge. What is the point? What does he gain from it?
“I think it’s naive from Pulisic, I don’t know what he gains from it. Shaka [Hislop, also on the ESPN panel] said about book sales, well alright that’s what he gains from it but it’s not my cup of tea. But why would you do that to a manager that could have been already at Chelsea?”
Pulisic previously worked with Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund, where he scored seven goals in 55 appearances across all competitions during the German’s two-year spell at the Westfalenstadion between 2015 and 2017, winning the DFB-Pokal in his final season.
There were no reported problems between the two during their time in Germany, and their bond got deeper when Pulisic was joined by Tuchel at Chelsea in January 2021, where they went on to win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup together.
However, Pulisic’s recent words suggest otherwise, following Tuchel’s decision to bench him before last year’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, which left the American’very dissatisfied.’
And Hutchison now fears that the 24-year-words old’s may have ‘destroyed’ his connection with the former Blues manager, perhaps jeopardising his career. “I think it kills any relationship Tuchel ever has with Christian Pulisic,” he added.
“It demolishes the idea that if Thomas Tuchel got a position somewhere else, he’d sign Pulisic; that’s not going to happen.” Managers talk, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter are talking about the players in the locker room, not so much about Pulisic, and it goes on from there.”
Pulisic’s autobiography is expected to be released next month, and he may find himself in hot trouble again if it contains further comments on Tuchel or anyone else at the club while he is still a Chelsea player, even if Graham Potter is now the club’s new manager.
