Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta says Christian Pulisic has been rewarded for his hard-work on the training pitch.

The American, signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has found it hard to break into Frank Lampard's starting XI this season.

But he came off the bench against Ajax on Wednesday to provide an assist for Michy Bathsuayi's winner, and Azpilicueta says it was just rewards for the 21-year-old.

Azpilicueta said: "Christian has been working very hard, we know that only 11 can start and seven subs are on the bench," he added. "So fair play to Christian for continuing to work hard. When he has come on in the last two games he has made a significant impact and he changed the game.

"He nearly got an assist last Saturday but he was running at people, he was taking people on, creating chances and tonight he got the assist. We are here to work as a team, we know that everybody is important and we have to all go in the same direction.

"Christian is 21 and he has been playing since he was young at Dortmund. But England is different. The pace of the game is different and we cannot forget this as well. Since Christian arrived from the beginning he has been very good.

"Sometimes you need more time to adapt to the game but he has done it in the last two games. That's what we need Christian to do but we need to keep calm, to work with the young lads, we know that.

"We have a young squad but we have been working really hard since pre-season and the only way I see this team improving is by the work ethic that we have had in every training session and every game. I am very pleased for Christian because it is a good moment for him."