Tim Howard reignited the fiery disagreements between Chelsea fans and United States men’s national team supporters over Christian Pulisic’s skill when he spoke on Taylor Twellman’s podcast, “Offside”.
Howard argued that Pulisic was at a disadvantage being an American player in the Premier League and if he were European, he would likely still be playing for Chelsea.
Tim Howard Pulisic comments
Tim Howard believes Christian Pulisic did a 'brilliant' job at Chelsea.
"If he was Dutch or Italian or anything else, he’d still be in the team. He wouldn’t be the first one pulled off the pitch, he wouldn’t be a substitute."(via Offside with @TaylorTwellman podcast) pic.twitter.com/4q6PJZtvCW
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) September 15, 2023
"If you’re an American and you’re playing in the Premier League, you better be good every day,” Howard said.
“Not for a year, not for a game. Some people on the couch want to say the landscape changed for Americans, it has not. I think Christian Pulisic did a brilliant job when he was called upon in that Chelsea team.
If he was Dutch or Italian or anything else, he’d still be in the team, he wouldn’t be the first one pulled off the pitch, he wouldn’t be a substitute. He’s that good, he’s showing that at Milan now, so as an American it’s tough. You have to prove it every day."
In Pulisic’s final season at Chelsea he only started eight of the 29 Premier League games he was available for and just one of the nine Champions League games.
Despite other players like Kai Havertz and Mason Mount also not producing, they were still given many more opportunities. Mount started 20 of his 26 potential Premier League games (scoring just three goals) while Havertz started 30 of his 36 Premier League games (he scored seven times).
With all three forwards misfiring they all left the club, and their transfer fees speak for themselves.
- Havertz to Arsenal: $85 million
- Mount to United: $70 million
- Pulisic to AC Milan: $24 million
Americans still have a stigma to overcome in the world of European football and Pulisic is trying to do just that with Milan.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC. TAKE A BOW.
WHAT A WAY TO MARK HIS SERIE DEBUT. pic.twitter.com/R4WIaeTpmp— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 21, 2023
His next game for the club will be a big one vs. Inter in the Derby della Madonnina at 12 p.m. ET.
