Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic said the team can expect a tough challenge from fellow Premier League top-four contenders in the home stretch of the season but they are ready for the fight after Saturday’s 4-1 win at Crystal Palace.
United States international Pulisic netted a brace and Kurt Zouma and Kai Havertz also struck as Chelsea responded to last weekend’s 5-2 loss against West Bromwich Albion to climb to fourth with 54 points from 31 games.
Sixth-placed West Ham can leapfrog them on Sunday if they win their game in hand against Leicester City. “It’s going to be tight. We need to put some good results together. We’re ready for this challenge,” Pulisic told the BBC.
“We had a tough day (against West Brom). We won’t win every game but the way we responded, we’re definitely happy... We were playing very aggressive and that drove us through the game.”
Pulisic has struggled for form and fitness this season with five goals in all competitions, but the 22-year-old backed himself to deliver in their remaining matches.
“There’s been a lot of things going on this season but I’ll work hard to do my best in any way I can,” Pulisic said. Havertz scored his first league goal since October and set up another for Pulisic as Chelsea scored more than two under manager Thomas Tuchel for the first time.
“It’s easy to play with players that have this quality... after winning 4-1, it’s easy to say you’re a good attacking team - but we have to go again and after the season we can speak about it,” Havertz told Sky Sports. “I have to prove it in more games.”
Chelsea next face Portugal’s Porto in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, having won the first leg 2-0 last week.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel praised his Chelsea side’s response to last week’s shock defeat by West Bromwich Albion after Saturday’s impressive 4-1 victory away to Crystal Palace.
Tuchel had enjoyed a 14-match unbeaten run since being hired and while a 5-2 home defeat by relegation battlers West Brom was a reality check, Chelsea have got back on track with a Champions League win over Porto and then demolishing Palace.
“Everything was bad against West Brom. The result was horrible but the stats were not as bad,” Tuchel said.
“Today we were very hungry, full of confidence and wanted to play a very aggressive game in terms of high recoveries.
“We were totally focused. It was good with the attitude today. It’s a part of our DNA to be aggressive and should be.”
The win put Chelsea back in fourth spot in the Premier League although West Ham United could dislodge them on Sunday if they beat Leicester City.
“Of course I came to England for the targets which was to finish in the top four,” Tuchel said. “We have our own way to go. We need results continually.
“We had a setback last week but it is not the moment to look at other teams all the time. We are in the middle of the race.”
German youngster Havertz produced one of his most effective games for Chelsea, scoring a well-taken goal, his first in the league since October, and setting up another for Pulisic soon afterwards to put Chelsea in control.
