Christian Pulisic: The Borussia Dortmund “Wunderkind” still has a long way to go

After a steady two years of growth, BVB’s young winger Christian Pulisic suffered a number of visible setbacks during the 2017-18 season. Equipped with unquestionable talent, this “phenom” still has a long way to go before fully realizing it.

This season was full of ups and downs for Christian Pulisic. It was miles removed from the breakout performance many pundits predicted prior to the start of the campaign. And while Christian didn’t perhaps re-gress, he certainly didn’t pro-gress either. Some of this can certainly be attributed to the player. Though in Pulisic’s case, a great deal of the blame can be directed towards the manager, as well as the instability that has plagued Borussia Dortmund since last summer.

Then there was the failed World Cup qualification effort with the US Men’s National team that was both physically and mentally draining. Much of the burden was placed on his shoulders, an 18 year old “kid” for much of that time.

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All of this may have ultimately played a part in Pulisic’s inconsistent season with Dortmund. Additionally, he was unexpectedly forced into the role of “everyday starter” prior to the season.

Due to injuries to Maximilian Philipp, Marco Reus, Andrij Yarmolenko and countless others, as well as the departure of Ousmane Dembélé, Pulisic was relied on heavily by both Peter Bosz and Peter Stöger to carry a heavy load for the team.

Simply put, he was not yet ready for this massive responsibility. How many other 19 year old kids are thrust into a feature role for a major European club? Very few to say the least.

His stats (led the Bundesliga in dribbles -77, four goals, five assists) were by no means terrible. The issue is that he went through large periods of uninspiring play. His lack of awareness and poor decision-making oftentimes landed him in trouble.

In total, Pulisic played nearly 800 minutes more this season over last. His starts nearly doubled jumping from 15 to 27. Yet, he managed to increase his goal tally by only one. His assist totals actually decreased by two.

Where it went wrong

There is no doubt that tactics, or lack thereof in some cases, are somewhat to blame. Having three managers in a span of seven months also does not help. The aforementioned injuries and player departures gave BVB managers no choice but to feature Christian in a prominent role within the squad. It was a case of too much too soon.

The potential of this player in unquestionable. Though, potential itself, does not take you very far. Every year in the NFL draft, NBA draft, they talk about each and every prospect having potential. Only a small fraction of those prospects actually make it.

For Pulisic, who still has his entire career ahead of him, it is incredibly important to keep his confidence at a high level. Under Peter Stöger especially, there was major concern regarding this. Pulisic’s ideal role for the 2017-18 campaign would have seen him enter the match as a super-sub, causing havoc for the tiring legs of opposing defenders with his incredible pace, while receiving the occasional start.

Opposing mangers were quick to identify Pulisic’s weaknesses. Relying heavily on his ball skills, though greatly lacking physicality, Pulisic would often drop his head and be forced into precarious situations. Defenders would often use the touchline as a second or third defender, which led to him being either dispossessed or running out of real estate.

Pulisic unnecessarily attempted too much on his own. For someone of that age, this is both understandable and even excusable. It does not however, alleviate the pressure that was mounting on himself, nor does it help BVB win matches.

What next?

There persists waves of rumors of a summer move for the young American international. While playing for former BVB manager Jürgen Klopp may benefit him in the long run, the time to leave Dortmund is not now.

I write this as Borussia Dortmund themselves have no manager. Their next hire in the post-Stöger era must be a hit. This individual must identify with the club as well as continue BVB’s excellent history of producing world class players.

Pulisic will undoubtedly have a far more prominent role at BVB than he would at Liverpool or Manchester United (another rumored destination). Playing a further season in a familiar system will only help him continue to grow. A premature move to Anfield or Old Trafford with the amount of talent both Premier League giants possess could spell an early end to what could otherwise have been a brilliant career.

Next: Pulisic must stay patient and stay with Dortmund

This would not be the first time a player from the Bundesliga has made the jump from the league too soon. Money and prestige are sometimes greater incentives than patience and development. With the season now concluded and the transfer window upon us, it is imperative that Christian Pulisic makes the right decision. BVB may or may not need Christian Pulisic.

Certainly, life will go on for the Ruhr giants. Moreover, I do believe he needs BVB. With much yet to prove and his best days still ahead, in a black and yellow shirt is where he belongs, at least for one more season.