‘You have to make that choice’: Jamie Carragher urges Chelsea star to follow Timo Werner and leave Stamford Bridge

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has backed Christian Pulisic to take inspiration from Timo Werner and leave Chelsea for good.

Since joining the club in June 2019, Pulisic, a €64m man, has struggled to secure his place in Chelsea’s starting eleven. Over the course of the 2022–23 season, Pulisic has appeared in 10 Premier League games, starting in just two of them.

Werner was in the same boat as Pulisic last summer, finding himself on the sidelines under then-manager Thomas Tuchel. In the summer transfer window, Werner returned to his homeland for good and rejoined RB Leipzig. Since then, he has been a revelation for the Bundesliga side, scoring eight times and providing four assists in 14 games in all competitions. Carragher has asked Pulisic to be inspired by Werner’s departure and make the bold decision to leave the Pensioners.

Christian Pulisic in Chelsea’s last four games: 🅰️ Assists on a winning goal against Palace ⚽️ Scores against Wolves 🅰️ Assists on a winning goal against Salzburg Deserves to start and respect 👏👏 https://t.co/Fk83M6LTaP

Speaking on CBS Sports, Carragher said (via Football.London):

“That’s why I think Thierry [Henry] says he respects Timo Werner. Instead of sitting on the bench for another year or two, he has returned to a place where he will play week after week.

“And I think Pulisic is at that stage where there have been some managerial changes. It seems that he has more opportunities with Potter, but not only him, I think Graham Potter is a manager who changes every game so that everyone has a chance”.

Carragher claimed the 24-year-old had been stagnant for too long, suggesting a change was needed to revive his career. He added:

“Then he can feel that he has more opportunities to show the coach that he can be in that recognized eleven. But he’s been there a few years, it hasn’t happened to him for some reason, and maybe Dortmund is a level below Chelsea, which is a team trying to win the Champions League; we know that Pulisic was part of that victory.

“But eventually you have to make that decision. I don’t think you can continue in the position that he’s been in for the last two or three years.”

Since joining Chelsea, Pulisic has appeared in 124 games for the West Londoners in all competitions, registering 26 goals and 21 assists.

Jamie Carragher is unsure whether or not Christian Pulisic can transform his fortunes under new Chelsea boss

Pulisic started in Tuesday’s (October 25) Champions League Group E victory over RB Salzburg, assisting Kai Havertz’s 64th-minute goal in a 2-1 win. If he continues like this, he could theoretically become an integral member of Potter’s Chelsea XI.

Christian Pulisic in 75 minutes for Chelsea today:

56 touches
1 assist
24/30 approved (80%)
2 key passes
1 dribble
5 duels won
1 foul committed
2 interceptions
1 plate

Solid.

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Christian Pulisic in 75 minutes for Chelsea today: 56 touches 1 assist 24/30 passes (80%) 2 key passes 1 dribble 5 wins 1 foul committed 2 interceptions 1 tackle Solid. 💪 https://t.co/27v0nkScr2

Carragher, however, isn’t sure whether or not there is an upgrade on the cards for Pulisic. When asked if Pulisic could turn his fortunes around with Potter, Carragher said:

“I never questioned Pulisic’s real ability, some of the things I saw him do, some of the goals I saw him score. But it is the constancy and the injuries. He will have a career on the team and then he will get injured and give someone else a chance. He never seems to have a [long] runs in the team and I think it will cost [under Potter].

“Perhaps his time has come and gone. But we are in the very early stages of Graham Potter, so who knows. Let’s cross our fingers that he can.”