Christian Pulisic has joined up with his new Chelsea team-mates on their pre-season tour of Japan and has big shoes to fill at the club after the exit of Eden Hazard.
The USA international was signed from Borussia Dortmund in January for £58million but spent the rest of the campaign at the German side before arriving at Stamford Bridge this summer window.
The 20-year-old has been regarded as a replacement for Hazard since the Belgium international departed for Real Madrid during this transfer window and Chelsea are under a transfer ban so cannot sign another player in Hazard’s position.
Whether he was signed with this in mind or not, Christian Pulisic believes he has the qualities to improve the Chelsea side in the absence of Hazard
‘I think I have a lot of speed and creativity that I can bring to the game; quickness and different attacking abilities that can really help the team,’ the American told GAFFER Magazine.
‘I think I have some tools that can really do well in this league [Premier League]. I just can’t wait.’
Pulisic was certainly not aware that Eden Hazard was on the way out of the club as he spoke as recently as May about his desire to play in the same team as the Belgian.
‘It is incredible to see what Eden can do,’ the American told BBC Sport.
‘He is a guy to look up to and what I would love to become.
‘It is definitely a goal. Any player would be dumb not to want to be in the same team as him.’
The former Dortmund star is enjoying his new beginning at Stamford Bridge, especially as he is working with a man he has watched over the years in Frank Lampard.
‘When I think of this club, there’s a lot of great players that come to mind,’ he continued to GAFFER.
‘I grew up watching Frank Lampard and all of those guys at the top of their game in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
‘To me, Chelsea were always one of the biggest teams and now to be playing here, it’s really come full circle from that moment. It feels amazing.’
