Thomas Tuchel defined the choice to start out Christian Pulisic at wingback in Sunday’s pre-season pleasant towards Arsenal, saying that now could be the time to experiment with a number of gamers nonetheless not again with the crew.

Pulisic began without any consideration wingback with Callum Hudson-Odoi beginning on the left as Chelsea sealed a 2-1 win behind targets from Tammy Abraham and Kai Havertz.

The Blues had been with out the likes of Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta and Reece James for the pleasant, giving Tuchel the prospect to attempt one thing new with two of his attackers.

Tuchel explains tactical tweak

“He performed there with me at Dortmund and we performed many instances like this with Callum,” Tuchel mentioned. “Marcos wasn’t capable of play as we speak so we put Callum on the left facet, which I needed to see from a very long time. Callum can possibly be extra harmful from this place coming inside which he loves, and which he did as we speak. So you already know our state of affairs.

“We’ve Azpi and Reece for this place [right wingback] however Azpi solely began two days in the past and Reece hasn’t even began but. So we’d like options as a result of we begin on the eleventh towards Villarreal and on the 14th is the season. We will not attempt issues then so now could be the time to see.

“It was the chance to offer him some minutes and from right here we go on.”

Pulisic’s time at Chelsea thus far

Pulisic has performed principally as a left winger throughout his time at Chelsea, though he has additionally been deployed on the proper and centrally throughout the entrance line since becoming a member of the Blues in 2019.

In complete, he is scored 17 targets in 77 appearances for the membership whereas serving to information the crew to a Champions League triumph final season.

Talking forward of this weekend’s pleasant, Pulisic indicated his largest aim this season was to remain wholesome after battling a number of accidents final season.

He additionally opened up on his struggles with psychological well being, crediting his therapist and his teammates for serving to him via some troublesome instances.