HAT-TRICK HERO Christian Pulisic has heaped credit on his manager Frank Lampard after his dream performance in Chelsea’s 4-2 win at Burnley.
The 21-year-old hadn’t been handed a Premier League start since August.
But he took his opportunity with aplomb at Turf Moor.
The USA international gave the Blues the lead after 21 minutes when he drove at the Burnley defence and arrowed in a low left-footed drive.
He doubled his tally just before the break with a deflected strike.
And it was the perfect hat-trick when he headed home Mason Mount’s whipped delivery in the 56th minute.
The Blues went on to win 4-2, and Pulisic could hardly contain his delight at the end.
He said: “Its unreal. What a day for me. I’m happy with the result and I just wish we had the clean sheet but in the end its a special day for me.
“I mean I’m not going to think about the clean sheet when I’m sleeping tonight but I’m very happy.
“I didnt even know I got to keep the match ball and didnt even think about it. Thankfully my teammates reminded me.
“Back in my youth days I got a few headers but professional ones probably not, it’s maybe the second one I’ve got that I can remember.
“It’s really special it’s happened today as well as being the perfect hat-trick. I couldnt believe it when it went in and I turned around.
“The first few months were hard and I had a few starts then I fell out and I’ve been trying to get any minutes I can since that.
“I’ve made an impact in the last few weeks and showed what I could do and they saw that and gave me a start. I didnt think it would happen right away its a big club so it takes time so I’m happy with my progress so far.
“The team has been fantastic and theyve helped me so much and so much advice given to me and the younger players have gone through similar things.
“Lampard was an incredible goalscorer and we work on it in training every day. I just want to keep going.”
And Lampard himself showered the 58million signing with praise.
The Chelsea legend said: “I am absolutely delighted for him.
There has been a lot of talk around Christian for the big price tag. He is quite rightly a star in his own country, captain of them.
I know the back story, the pressure of big move. He played for his country in the summer and had only a one week break.
“Then you have the pressure of whether can he deal with the Premier League so I have given him minutes. Christian has been performing from the bench and deserved his start.
It was a fantastic match-winning performance. I know what a good player he is. There are things he has to learn and improve. He has just turned 21.
He certainly knows I am driving him daily in training. The way he has trained in the last few weeks says here I am. He showed the full package today.
When he moves the ball so quickly then he can cause teams a lot of problems. I hope it gives him confidence it should do.
Speculation had been mounting that Pulisic was unhappy with his lack of game time at Stamford Bridge – and it was even suggested that he could go out on loan in January.
But after impressing from the bench against Ajax in midweek, setting up Michy Batshuayi’s late winner, Pulisic was handed an opportunity to start.
And the American grabbed it with both hands at Turf Moor.
