Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has likened winger Christian Pulisic to Real Madrid ace Eden Hazard following last night's UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg between the two clubs at Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
The first encounter of the two-legged last-four showdown finished 1-1 at Madrid's training complex, with Karim Benzema earning the home side a draw after Pulisic handed Chelsea an early lead.
The USA international, starting for the fifth game in a row, latched onto Antonio Rudiger's long-ball over the top of the Madrid defence, got in behind, rounded Thibaut Courtois and kept his coolness to bury the ball into the back of the net with Madrid defenders still in with a chance of blocking the ball.
It was an excellent finish from the former Borussia Dortmund star who raced over to head coach Thomas Tuchel on the touchline to celebrate what could be a crucial away-goal in the Blues' quest to reach their first Champions League final since winning the trophy back in 2012.
Although the goal was the highlight of the winger's performance, he was a nightmare for Madrid's defenders to contain, running them ragged during the opening stages.
With him having produced a performance of such impressiveness in what can only be described as the biggest game in the Blues' season so far, it earned him massive amounts of praise from former Chelsea man Cole after the full-time whistle, so much so that he was compared to Hazard.
"I love Pulisic. At the back end of last season, he was Chelsea’s best player by a mile," Cole told BT Sport. "He looked like Eden Hazard, he could go both ways and score goals but the injuries have cost him.
"I’ve felt a little bit of a chink in his armour with his mentality. A player of his quality shouldn’t go as long as he has without having an affect on the game, I don’t know why that is.
"He’s a young man, he’s in a new country and I think he’s going to be a massive player for Chelsea.
"He’s well liked and respected in the dressing room. The club loves the fact that he’s a gem and he’s a marketing rise in America, he’s a God, but as a player, he more than holds his own. I think he’s terrific."
On the game itself, Cole added: "The only disappointing thing would have been earlier on, when you had Real Madrid on the ropes, you could have got Callum Hudson-Odoi or Reece James on a bit earlier to go at Marcelo.
"I think we’ve missed a little trick, I hope I’m wrong, but I just think they won’t play as bad as that. If Ramos is back, then they’ll go back to a back-four, which they’re more comfortable with.
"Eden Hazard has another week’s training, does he come on and make an impact? Good result, fantastic performance but it could have been better."
