[QUOTE=" Fouling someone like CP is always going to be the game plan. Most teams can't manage his pace/quickness and have no option but to bring him down. Until the laws of the game change he needs to find a way to live with it and move on.[/QUOTE] There's nothing wrong with the the laws of the game. The problem is with referees not implementing them. You yourself say "Fouling someone like CP is always going to be the game plan", well then call the fouls show a yellow card and the fouls will stop , its called managing a game.
I wasn’t saying he should be any different. In fact, my point was exactly the opposite. There are times where his gestures come off as petulant or whiney and I don’t think it’s a good look but despite what I think, he is right to make his displeasure known because it will make referees take notice and more likely to make calls that favor him.
An American who's next yellow card for simulation or dissent for Chelsea will be his first is about to play in the Champions League final in a year in which he was fouled the most times in a CL game of any player in a decade, and there are people who want to use this time to post about his toughness/antics/theatrics/etc. Odd.
Well, there we have it. CP as an impact sub. I don’t think tactically that is an insult to him, as some may think. Side note: putting 2 keepers on the bench and leaving Tammy off is a slap to the face to that kid. I know TT does not rate Abraham, but dayum.
The bad news is Pulisic is not starting. The good news is that he will come on because Chelsea will need goals. It remains to be seen if they will need more goals than he can provide in 20-30 minutes of action. I'm not overly confident that this lineup can produce more than a fluke goal.
Not a “shocker” at all. He’s had chances to nail down his spot and hasn’t taken them. And Tuchel knows he’ll make an impact from the bench.
If scoring against Real Madrid in the first leg doesn't get you a start in the second leg, I am not sure what Pulisic could have done against the likes of Aston Villa (he only got an assist in that one) to nail down a starting spot today. Tuchel, from the very beginning, has said he sees Pulisic as a great super sub. Every single time there is an important game with a possibility of going to extra time and penalties, Pulisic has started on the bench. This is not, and never has been, about recent performance. This is about a deep-seeded view of Pulisic that Tuchel has.
This is a really tough situation to be in. CP comes in the 2nd half and stinks it up, proof that TT was right not to start him. CP comes in the 2nd half and lit it up, proof TT's tactic was right on the dot. You just can't win. It's like going to the racetrack and decided to leave your Ferrari in the garage, because you want to bring it on the last lap.
Standard defensive take low chances lineup. Like the second leg against Real Madrid. The good thing is, Pulisic might replace a tired Mount after putting in a box to box shift or works with a tired Chilwell. They won’t take away his space.
This is the biggest and last game of the season, I think TT should have taken a bit more risk here and bring the offensive. Front 3 should be Werner, Havertz, Pulisic Midfield 2 should be Mount and Kante
I understand it the way he's played recently. He's made his own bed after calling his shot. Still think it's the wrong choice in this situation because he's had success against Man City & fits best in Tuchel's system on the counter. Best case scenario is it's tied or Chelsea are trailing by 1 in the second. Worst case is one team is comfortably ahead. If Chelsea are up 1, still think Pulisic would come on, it just may be later, and his minutes couldn't be as impactful.
Not surprised he's not starting and to be frank, I don't think we should be mad about it...His form had clearly dropped after the Madrid match...he has looked so low in energy ever since and he was no longer dribbling pass his marker with ease. Hopefully, he can make an impact off the bench..but not sure it will still be a contested match by the time he gets in.