Christian Pulisic Happy to Make Chelsea Debut Despite Loss in Japan
Chelsea are in the middle of their preseason tour of Asia, but the team suffered its first defeat under new manager Frank Lampard on Friday with a 1-0 loss to Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale in Yokohama. Kawasaki enjoyed a massive home-field advantage for the exhibition match, and Brazilian striker Leandro Damaio scored the winner with his head two minutes before the end of second-half stoppage time.
The result of the match may have been discouraging for the Blues, but there were some positives to draw afterward. Mason Mount, a 20-year-old midfielder, looked impressive during his time on the pitch, and Lampard singled him out with praise afterward. Lampard said, “It is time for him. His qualities will improve, even more with the quality around him and everybody knows the hopes I have for Mason. He showed today just a start, a little glimmer in early preseason of what we might see this year and going forward.”
The Blues qualified for Champions League football thanks to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season, though they have undergone several changes this summer. Eden Hazard finally made his long-awaited move to Real Madrid, while manager Maurizio Sarri left after just a season at the helm in order to return to Italy to coach Juventus. Reigning champions Manchester City and European champions Liverpool are heavy favorites to win the English top flight in 2020, with Chelsea registering the fourth-best odds behind Tottenham Hotspur at most betting sites.
Mount signed a five-year deal with the Blues earlier this month after spending last season on loan at Derby County.
A starting XI that featured Mount, Michy Batshuayi and Kenedy struggled to break down the defense of the J-League champions. Pedro put a shot on target that forced an early save, while Kenedy slightly missed the goal on an effort from distance, but there was otherwise little to enjoy from an attacking perspective from Chelsea over the course of the full 90 minutes.
Willy Caballero, who got the start in goal, was forced into a save late in the first half that would have put Kawasaki in front. Lampard deployed mass subs at halftime, with Andreas Christenson, Emerson, Davide Zappacosta, Olivier Giroud and Ross Barkley replacing Kurt Zouma, Pedro, Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta and Batshuayi.
Mount nearly found an opening to give the Blues the lead three minutes after halftime, but his shot was saved. Giroud also had a shot saved on an effort from a set piece in the 75th minute, but Damaio and Kawasaki ultimately enjoyed the last laugh.
One of Chelsea’s biggest signings of last season, American Christian Pulisic, also made his debut for the side. The former Borussia Dortmund man made a 25-minute cameo in the second half of the match after coming on for the 20-year-old Mount.
While he wasn’t able to help get the Blues onto the scoresheet, Pulisic said he was pleased with his first performance in a Chelsea shirt. The Pennsylvania native said, “I’m really happy to be here with the team and to get in an actual match for the first time feels really good. We wanted to come out with a win, but I’m definitely happy. They were a very good opponent. They tested us for 90 minutes and they scored a good goal in the end.”
When asked about working with Lampard, Pulisic replied, “It’s been great. I grew up watching him and to have him here giving me pointers and helping the team, it’s awesome to have him around. It’s nice to have a guy that we can really relate to, so it’s been great so far.”
