Christian Pulisic joins AC Milan still defiant about his Chelsea record and deeply frustrated at a lack of faith and sufficient opportunities given to him at Stamford Bridge, but ambitious and committed to winning Serie A and the Champions League with the Rossoneri.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN at Casa Milan, the
club's imposing headquarters, Pulisic, asked if he should have been given a
fairer, regular chance to prove himself, said: "Of course there were
definitely times where I wish I could have gotten that much more of an
opportunity and been 'that guy,' but that's not the case. I'm strongly proud of
what I achieved at Chelsea, winning major cup finals, being on the pitch and
helping my team, Champions League, Super Cup, all that.
"I believe I had great moments at Chelsea. I learned a
lot as a player and I grew a lot, but now I'm completely ready for this
brilliant challenge at AC Milan.
"I remember playing here at San Siro in the Champions
League (a 2-0 Chelsea win in October) and I could not believe what I was seeing
before the match even started when the fans were just chanting and screaming.
The atmosphere was absolutely electric. I'd never experienced anything like
that. I think AC Milan, playing at San Siro, might be the best place in the
world when there's a big game.
"I'm hugely excited, now, to be on the home end of that
brilliant support and to be a part of all this. The Milanista fans have already
been stunning, it's incredible. Every place I've been there seems to be fans
waiting out there; it just shows you the passion and the culture of this city
and what this club means to them. They've definitely gone 'above and beyond' so
far."
The Rossoneri, about to celebrate their 125th anniversary,
have won 18 FIFA and UEFA trophies, more than any other Italian club. Only Real
Madrid have won more Champions Leagues than Milan.
Pulisic, 24, will become the first-ever U.S.-born man to
start for this immensely storied club, Champions League semifinalists last
season and Italian champions the season before. However, his stance is that
opportunities in the immediate future vastly outweigh making history because of
his unique status. He's also crystal clear that working in the streetwise,
ultra-tactical Serie A will directly benefit the quality and maturity of his
performances for the U.S. men's national team.
Pulisic, the player of the tournament when the USMNT won the
Concacaf Nations League by beating Mexico 3-0 and Canada 2-0 in June, told
ESPN: "I'm just proud to be an AC Milan player, it doesn't matter where
I'm from or becoming unique. This club has won titles all its history, and
while I'm obviously keen to represent my country and to be the first guy from
the U.S. to come here and make a big impact [Oguchi Onyewu came on for a
30-minute cameo in his single Milan appearance, and Netherlands-born Sergino
Dest played intermittently on loan last season], the key fact is that I'm here
to help AC Milan keep winning trophies.
"As far as the U.S. team is concerned, this experience
is just a massive opportunity for me to learn and grow as a footballer. Playing
in a new league is a challenge which will test me.
"When those big international moments come along,
starting with next summer's Copa America, I'm just going to be that much more
battle-experienced. I view earning my place and performing well for AC Milan as
a huge chance for me to really step up and go to another level as a
player."
After brief Palm Beach holidays, life has become a maelstrom
for the Hershey, Pennsylvania-born player. There will be training for the first
time with (mostly) new teammates under a coach eager to see his new signing in
action. Then a tour of the U.S., playing Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona in
Los Angeles; Pasadena, California; and Las Vegas. Even the whiff of the first
Milan derby is only nine weeks away.
Fortunately, there are a host of reasons for him to settle
in quickly. The most folksy of which is his much-loved grandmother, Johanna
DiStefano.
A Brooklyn woman, upon whom young Pulisic absolutely doted,
she considered herself a proud Italian.
"Yeah, I think my grandma would definitely be the most
proud seeing me do this -- signing for the greatest Italian club -- so it's a
great feeling," Pulisic said. "I'm really honoured to be here to play
for such a historic club like this and to play in Italy. She's definitely looking
down on me right now and feeling proud."
When Pulisic was at Borussia Dortmund and his grandfather's
Croatian heritage became a central theme, DiStefano firmly nagged her talented
grandson to trumpet his Italian lineage.
"Oh yeah, she let everyone know that she was Italian --
in fact that she was Sicilian," Pulisic said. "That was her claim to
fame. She definitely cooked us some unbelievable Italian food. I miss those
meals, so she was she a big part of my life, and yeah, we miss her very much
too. My dad, her son, has an Italian flag tattooed on his forearm, so I guess
it's funny how all that works out. Now Italy is a big part of my life."
There are more practical route maps to Milan's new star, who
was mobbed by waiting fans at Malpensa Airport when he jetted in, fitting in
quickly.
He speaks pretty good Spanish, a clear interpretive guide to
understanding lots more Italian while he learns the new language. He also loved
the extended briefing Milan coach Stefano Pioli gave him long before contracts
were concluded.
As a bonus, he knows -- and has been in contact with --
several of the Rossoneri squad. Pulisic shared the Stamford Bridge dressing
room with Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Pioli, the trainer who in 2022 brought Milan their first
league title since 2011, didn't only brief Pulisic on his potential role in the
team -- he persuaded him to sign.
"The coach really made me feel like he wanted me here
... that he wanted me to be a part of this team and how he saw me fitting
in," Pulisic said of Pioli. "That's precisely what I wanted to hear.
Obviously I just want a fair opportunity like everyone else, I still need to
earn my place of course, but it felt like I was genuinely wanted here. When I
show good effort, good attitude every day and train well, I'm going to get the
opportunity to go out and perform.
"Coach Pioli explained to me the reason they want me in
is because I'm a very direct and creative player. That's something that they
want specifically."
He hasn't been short of encouragement from his new teammates
either.
"I've been talking to all the ex-Chelsea guys,"
Pulisic said. "Obviously [Giroud] and I had a great relationship at our
last club and some great times together. We scored a lot of goals together and
he definitely persuaded me to come here.
"He told me about precisely how big a club it is and
that AC Milan is a place where I can really flourish as a player. But I've
spoken to [Tomori], [Loftus-Cheek], all those guys. I've heard only good things
so I'm really excited to get started here, and it's nice to see some familiar
faces."
The last time ESPN sat down to chat with Pulisic, it was in
London, not long after his influential and exciting World Cup performance. He
talked passionately about his faith, his belief that there's a predestined
route to his life and about his ability to rise to meet challenges.
Now, arguably, there's a still greater feeling of fate.
"It's still very true that I trust the path that I'm
on. I know [God] is looking over me always, and while there've been a lot of
tough moments in my career, I wouldn't be where I am today without him. So I
just trust. I trust it's all happening for a reason and there's definitely a
plan for me."
The next part of the plan begins at the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena on July 23 against the mighty Real Madrid. Bring it on.
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