Pulisic opens up about Milan’s development path post-Chelsea hurdles

Christian Pulisic discusses his growth at Milan, highlighting the trust and opportunities he's received compared to his time at Chelsea.

Chirag

April 26, 2024

Pulisic On Great Debut Season At Milan Than Ac — Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

Christian Pulisic discussed his progression in Serie A and the level of trust he now enjoys at Milan compared to his challenging stint with Chelsea.

The 25-year-old American winger has excelled since his arrival at the Rossoneri last summer for approximately €20m, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in Stefano Pioli’s squad in Lombardy. With 13 goals and eight assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, Pulisic has made a significant impact.

Heading into the summer, Pulisic is now a fixture for Milan, and his development in Italy bodes well for the United States national team as they prepare for the North American World Cup in 2026.

Reflecting on his growth, Pulisic shared with ESPN his impressions since joining Milan last summer.

“I think I’ve grown a lot here, I’ve actually been surprised by how difficult a lot of the games are in this league. I think it’s been a great test for me, but it I think it just comes down to just being given the opportunities here.”

“I’ve had a lot of time on the field to show what I can do, and I’ve been given a creative role and a lot of freedom as well at times, which has been a huge part of getting that self-belief and confidence back.”

When questioned about the most challenging aspect of adaptation, Pulisic highlighted language barriers as the toughest hurdle when one lacks proficiency.

“The language is always the hardest part, when you don’t speak it at all.”

Pulisic emerged as a promising talent at Borussia Dortmund but faced difficulties in expressing his full potential at Chelsea due to a series of injuries and a perceived lack of faith from his coaches in West London.