Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic: ‘I want to be on the pitch. I enjoy this club a lot’

Which direction is Christian Pulisic going in? For most of his career, it was a question that preoccupied opposition defenders; more recently, it is one Pulisic has perhaps begun to ask himself. Pulisic is 23 years old, a player of rare poise and skill, by common consent the greatest male footballer to come out of the United States. Back home his face is used to sell energy drinks, computer games, burritos and peanut butter chocolates. The path to stardom has been blazed and beaten with an inexorable momentum. Now he’s here, a Champions League winner at one of the biggest clubs in the world. And yet.

Pulisic has started only 12 league games this season. A few days before this interview his father, Mark, went on Twitter to express – and then quickly retract – his disappointment at his son’s treatment at Chelsea. The FA Cup semi-final, the Club World Cup final, the Champions League second leg against Real Madrid: Pulisic was left on the bench each time. “The sad thing is he loves this club, teammates, and London,” Pulisic senior wrote. “Puts his heart and soul into being a pro. Onwards and upwards my boy ... big six months ahead.”

Naturally, the tweet set off all kinds of rumours and suspicions, mutters and grumbles. Alas, when the Guardian attempts to ask Pulisic about it, the interview is swiftly brought to a halt. Before that, however, he is both philosophical and commendably frank about his lack of opportunities this season. Obviously he wishes he could have played a little more. He admits that he has been played “all over the place” this season under Thomas Tuchel. But he’s still on board, still fighting. After all, there’s a Cup final to be played, and precious little room for distractions.

First, the big question: