Pulisic back in Chelsea squad for Champions League clash

Christian Pulisic is making his return to the Chelsea squad during the Blues’ Champions League round of 16 second leg against Borussia Dortmund. Graham Potter revealed the information in his press conference on Monday before Tuesday’s fixture.

Tuesday’s contest is Pulisic’s first appearance on the team sheet since January 5. In a game against Manchester City, Pulisic picked up a knee injury, sidelining him for the next two months. That was manager Graham Potter’s original diagnosis for the time out.

In Pulisic’s leave, the names at Potter’s disposal changed by a considerable margin. Since picking up that injury in early January, Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Carney Chukwuemeka and Joao Felix on loan. Each of those, with the exception of Noni Madueke, is on Chelsea’s 25-man squad, along with Pulisic.

Graham Potter confirmed that Pulisic is able to return from his long injury stint to compete for a spot against a number of those players.

Pulisic first to return to Chelsea in Champions League

Pulisic, prior to Potter’s revelation, was one of a handful of players sidelined with injury at Stamford Bridge. Recce James, N’golo Kante, Armando Broja, Mason Mount, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta are all out for multiple games. Of those, Potter says Pulisic is the only one that is for certain available for the Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.

Fittingly, it comes against the American’s former team. Pulisic moved from Dortmund to London in the summer of 2019 for roughly $65 million. This is Pulisic’s first time playing against the team he spent five years at.

Pulisic’s return is a welcome sight for Chelsea. The club’s injury concerns have yielded next to no results. In February, Chelsea mustered just one goal in all competitions. It picked up its second win of 2023 with a 1-0 win over Leeds this past weekend.

While the Premier League is a lost cause, the Champions League could be a saving grace for Graham Potter in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportimage