Brad Friedel claims this Chelsea player could benefit from Tuchel’s departure

Brad Friedel believes Christian Pulisic can benefit from Thomas Tuchel leaving Chelsea

Speaking to Betway.com (h/t Football.London), former Tottenham Hotspur and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes his fellow countryman Christian Pulisic can benefit from Thomas Tuchel leaving Chelsea.

Tuchel was sacked by the Blues on September 7, after an underwhelming start to the season despite the fact that it was only a week after the deadline of the summer transfer window.

Friedel, who has played for Aston Villa, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers along with Spurs in the Premier League, is confident that new manager Graham Potter will give Pulisic a chance or two to prove himself after being on the fringes under the former boss.

Here’s what the 51-year-old has had to say (h/t Football.London):

“From a United States fan perspective, I want Pulisic to play more, and I want him to do well in the World Cup. He may really benefit from Thomas Tuchel leaving, because things weren’t going incredibly well on the playing front in terms of starts and minutes on the pitch.:

“Again, I don’t know what Graham Potter’s views are of him, but he is a new head coach so he is going to give him a chance: I am sure of that at some stage. But he might be one of the players who really benefits from a managerial change.”

Pulisic was one of the bright young talents at Borussia Dortmund before arriving at Chelsea in the summer of 2019 after signing a deal in January.

He has never managed to become a regular starter neither under Frank Lampard nor Tuchel. However, it was his relationship with the latter that was not good, especially after the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in 2021.

Last season, the 24-year-old played only 22 league games, some of it coming as a substitute. This season so far, the USA international is yet to start a league game. But, all that was under Tuchel, who is no more on the job.

New manager Potter would start with a blank canvas, so there is an opportunity for the likes of Pulisic to showcase his quality in training and catch the manager’s eye.

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It is important that the forward starts playing games regularly once again. It would not only be good for his national team for the upcoming World Cup, but also for his own career moving forward. He cannot be at the fringes and expect to be a superstar player.