Frank Lampard hit back at RB Leipzig head coach Jesse Marsch after the return of Chelsea’s star youngster.
Frank Lampard reacted to Red Bull Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch’s comment regarding Christian Pulisic. Apparently, Marsch said that the England boss did not consider playing the US international at the beginning.
Initially, however, Pulisic made a slow start to the season following his £58 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund. Nevertheless, the USMNT star netted two times against Salzburg in a 2019-20 pre-season game.
Although, after the restart of the Premier League following the virus lockdown, Pulisic soared back to playing good football. Thus, he became a first-team player for Chelsea under Lampard’s supervision.
Though, the 22-year-old suffered from an injury during the FA Cup clash against Arsenal. But, he made a return to the squad after Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Krasnodar in the Champions League.
No doubts from the gaffer.
And, Lampard responded to Marsch’s comments following the midweek clash.
“I did read the comments. And I was surprised that Jesse had managed to read my mind as well as he thought he did,” Lampard told reporters ahead of a trip to Burnley this weekend.
“He’s recounted the conversation wrong, I have to put it correctly because it was the game against Salzburg were played. And Christian scored two goals in pre-season. Fair enough, Jesse came up to me and said what a talented player Christian was which I knew. And I agreed with it.
“I spoke about the fact it was so exciting to see how he could develop for us with the talent he has. That was the conversation. Jesse managed to put it across slightly differently.
“Maybe Jesse knows the feeling of American managers and coaches that travel into Europe. But one thing I did have was I played in America for 18 months. And I would never underestimate the desire that American soccer players – football players – have to learn, to improve, take on information. And understand the technical side of the game.
“So when you have that, which Christian had, and you have incredible talent, it was never in doubt for me. My only thing is I coach in the Premier League. And I have played here for nearly 20 years so I understand the rigors of it.
“That brings me on to Christian’s development last year. It is clearly the toughest league in the world to come and play at a young age from a different league. It is not just Christian who will have felt that in the early stages.
“Some of the greatest players in Premier League history, whether they came from America or Europe or anywhere in the world, have felt that. What Christian did was find his feet very quickly. And have a great first season in the Premier League where he produced goals and assists.
“I thought his performance last season was massively impressive. He will get better and better because he is a young player but I never doubted him in the first place. And that’s not me jumping on Jesse because there’s probably a bigger issue there with American players.
“I don’t want to comment on that – he can field that one himself. But as a manager I never doubted Christian. And it is important for me to put that straight actually, more for Christian than anything.”
Additionally, the USMNT captain’s best game of the last season was against Burnley at Turf Moor. Pulisic bagged in a perfect hat-trick following Chelsea’s 4-2 win away from home.
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