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Thomas Tuchel has said he wants Christian Pulisic to stay at Chelsea, but admitted that no decision has yet been made on the club’s summer plans.
The USMNT international only started with the FA Cup fifth round victory at Barnsley on February 11 during Tuchel’s six-game tenure.
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Pulisic is in doubt for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Southampton, and although the 22-year-old recently missed Chelsea’s win at Sheffield United for personal reasons, the lack of playing time has fueled speculation that he could leave the club this summer.
However, when asked at a press conference if the striker still has a future at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel replied: “Yes, today, clearly yes, but that’s not just my point We have to see. For me, clearly yes, because Chelsea bought Christian for a reason, for his quality, for his potential, and it’s our job to bring out the best in him.
“He has proven in several weeks that he has the level to be a regular Chelsea player, to have a big impact at this club. It is a challenge now to maintain that level, to improve and to maintain the level and keep improving. “
Pulisic, who has a contract until 2024, has struggled with lingering injury issues since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2019, but particularly after a hamstring injury suffered in the FA final defeat Cup last August against Arsenal.
Former Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has revealed the club are exploring specific training programs amid fears Pulisic is struggling to cope with the rigors of regular first-team football.
While Tuchel doesn’t necessarily share this view, he said Pulisic is unlikely to be in danger of avoiding another “cycle” of fitness issues.
“We are not concerned, we are not worried, but the physical and medical department is on it,” he added. “Now we have little calf problems. He stopped training yesterday before it turned into an injury.
“So I wouldn’t say it’s an injury; right now it’s about managing the risk of not being injured. It depends on her injury history, so we don’t want to go into the same cycle.
“It is sometimes like that, and the main thing for Christian is to stay positive, to keep your head up high and, like I said before, to be ready because he can have a big impact when he starts and he can have a very big impact when he comes off the bench with his intensity.
“There is absolutely no decision made for the summer. There is just no time for it at the moment, and it is not the time now. There is no need to think about it today. “
Thiago Silva has not recovered from a thigh problem and will miss the game against Southampton, but Tammy Abraham was due to train on Friday afternoon despite a limp in Monday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle with a problem with ankle. Kai Havertz is also in good shape after shaking a blow.
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