The next step in Christian Pulisic's career could come this month with a big chance at BVB
It's hard to do better than "17 years old and playing regularly for Borussia Dortmund." When Christian Pulisic managed that, it was a breakthrough unlike anything we've ever seen from an American -- something that would be cause for jubilation regardless of a player's country of origin, and the signs of not just a bright future, but a tantalizing present.
A year on from Pulisic's jump to Borussia Dortmund's first team, he's been filling largely the same role as when he showed up. He starts occasionally, but is generally used off the bench, either for a spark to the attack or to work defensively and wrap up three points. That's incredible for a player his age at a club like BVB and hardly a reason for worry, but now he has a chance for more.
What was once a pretty set BVB attacking band with one opening has now been blown up. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele are still there and set to start every match, but Marco Reus has gone down injured and will be out for four weeks. Now his spot is open, as well as that fourth spot in the attacking band often taken up by Raphael Guerreiro. Moreover, Mario Gotze has been ruled out indefinitely with a metabolic issue, so one of Pulisic's competitors for the spot is now off the table.
Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel said that Andre Schurrle and Shinji Kagawa are in mix, predictably so. Schurrle is a Tuchel favorite and, along with Kagawa, offers experience and a proven track record. BVB can turn to either and know exactly what they're going to get -- reliable and tidy play. But also play that is hardly dynamic.
Pulisic is dynamic, capable of running at defenders, but also using his young legs to defend as well. It's telling that when Tuchel speaks about the young American, he mentions the way he defends as often as he does what he does with the ball. And while Pulisic may not have the experience of Schurrle and Kagawa, he is just as tidy. Plus, it's abundantly clear that experience doesn't mean much to Tuchel, with the 19-year-old Dembele a regular starter already.
That's why when Reus went down over the weekend and needed a first half substitution, it wasn't Schurrle who came into the match. Tuchel tabbed Pulisic, and the American made him look like a genius. He was active in the press, turning Bayer Leverkusen over with regularity. He sprung attacks, picked up an assist and got a goal to boot. Quite simply, Pulisic did it all. It wasn't so much a matter of Dortmund not losing a step when Pulisic came on -- they got better.
Now Dortmund will have to figure out how to cope without Reus for a month, beginning with a Champions League clash against Benfica (Wednesday, 2:45 p.m. on FS2). Right now, it looks like Pulisic is the answer to that problem. He's the one Tuchel turned to when Reus first went down, and he's the one who repaid that faith. With a Champions League run in their sights, BVB are readying for the spotlight, and so is Pulisic, who could grab more of that spotlight than ever before.
Pulisic has spent the last year carving out a place in the BVB team, and a big one at that. It's one that has those in Dortmund and the United States rightly thrilled. He's just 18 years old and already doing magnificent things. Is this when he takes on an even bigger role, though? He has his chance.
