Chelsea news: The Blues' USMNT star has a plan for getting back into Graham Potter's thoughts when he returns.
Christian Pulisic has re-iterated his message to fans of USMNT and Chelsea as he prepares to play for his country once again in the international break. The winger starred for Anthony Hudson's side in their 7-1 CONCACAF Nations League win against Grenada on Saturday and is looking to continue that form.
It is El Salvador lying in wait now for Pulisic and his teammates and the pain of a tough 12 months has not escaped the 24-year-old. In a message to supporters, he reposted an image from The Athletes' Corner onto his Instagram story with the quote: "When I go to pray, I don't go asking God to fix this. I say, 'help me to see this from your perspective.' "
It was part of a wider reflection that Pulisic made earlier this week in which he looked back upon the World Cup and a testing period at Stamford Bridge too.
"I watch myself back and see what could I have done so that if I'm in a similar situation, the next time it comes I'm going to bury that chance. At the same time, there comes a point where if you just continue to look back on it in a negative way and can't forget about it, then you're never going to move on."
It's this self-belief that keeps him going too. "I've always been a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. I believe God has a plan. I believe that the defeat against the Netherlands made us a stronger team, made me a stronger player, and that it's going to help us when we're in the next big match or the next World Cup," he told ESPN.
"Yeah, I think you get a whole new appreciation for what you do when you're sitting on the sideline and watching your teammates do it, especially in tough moments, which had been the case in recent weeks at Chelsea when results weren't quite going our way. And even though I wasn't a part of it because of my injury, it hurts me as well because I've been in that position. And I just want to do anything I can to be alongside my teammates during those moments. I want to push to be out on that field so much more.
"When I was out for two months watching training every day, and just not being able to do what I love, it hurts, and it makes you want to come back that much more. And now, when I come back and anytime I get to step out on the field, I truly feel blessed."
"There are things happening, you know, years down the line that he knows and he has planned for me, and this is all leading up to it.
"After this injury, I worked a lot in the gym. I feel like I've become a lot stronger. I feel like I'm gonna be a better player in future years because of this. That's the answer he gave me, and that's what I realized over time. It's not like asking for anything. It's just having him there and feeling his blessing over you."
Pulisic now has ambitions with his country on a long and exciting journey towards the 2026 World Cup and also bouncing back his previous domestic levels too.
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