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Christian Pulisic finding it ‘tough’ to meet Chelsea demands while being played out of position

 (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Christian Pulisic has admitted to recently finding it tough at Chelsea, due to being played out of position.

Thomas Tuchel has struggled to get his attackers firing in either his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation or in the occassionally-tested 4-3-3. For the American, that has meant moving around the pitch and even popping up at wing-back and as a false nine.

That has contributed to a return of just three goals this season, and Pulisic has discussed his situation ahead of two crucial World Cup qualifiers with the United States national team.

“It is tough,” he told reporters. “I haven’t always been playing in the positions I want to play in.

“But I think it is a good quality to be versatile and able to play in all kinds of positions and have different strengths on the pitch. I’ve learned a lot and I’m ready to hopefully be in a spot over the next few games that I’m more comfortable in.”

El Salvador and group leaders Canada are up next for the USMNT, who are looking good to qualify for Qatar 2022, with the Club World Cup on the horizon for Chelsea.

“I would say there’s two sides to me, especially when people ask you how you are,” Pulisic added. “There is the soccer side and the person side. The person side is even more important to me and I’m doing alright in that sense. It is a lot sometimes.

“When I come to the national team it is, ‘How are things with Chelsea?’ and ‘What’s this’ and ‘What’s that.’ It’s tough. Mentally it has played on me at times but I am always very excited to be on the national team and get to enjoy playing with these guys and just enjoy football in general.”