Noticing the talent of Christian Pulisic and believing he’ll have a great career should no longer be classified as jumping on the hype train. The term 'hype train' is like the plans for a high-speed rail in the United States, a theoretical concept that’s been touted since 1965 but has never materialized. 'Hype train' infers that nothing is settled, that everything is still in the balance.
Christian Pulisic isn’t a hypothetical. No, Pulisic is more like Japan Railways’ latest bullet train, traveling at 374 mph and decimating the Real Madrid back line. This train is as real as the Trans-Siberian Railway and just as cold-blooded.
The 18-year-old was introduced in the 73rd minute of Dortmund’s Champions League encounter with Real Madrid. With Dortmund trailing 2-1, his task was simple enough: do something, against the defending European champions, to salvage the tie.
Pulisic did just that. Receiving the ball on Dortmund’s right-hand side, he proceeded to turn past a defender, sprint through two more and deliver a cross towards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The dangerous ball managed to evade Aubameyang’s attempted overhead kick, but it fell nicely to Andre Schurrle. The German applied a beautiful finish, earning a point for Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Wonderful work from Pulisic to set up Schurrle's unstoppable equalizer for Dortmund. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/JYkieVRcAS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 27, 2016
At this point, Pulisic is making it extremely difficult for Tuchel not to give him more minutes. While Pulisic should be more than pleased at earning a regular spot on the substitutes' bench considering the options at Dortmund, Tuchel must be more than happy with how Pulisic is becoming a trusted, consistent performer.
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