Christian Pulisic is back in his groove. The American has registered a goal or assist in six of his last eight games for AC Milan, spearheading a turnaround in the Rossoneri’s fortunes over the winter period, and earning himself Player of the Month in Serie A for December. Indeed, Stefano Pioli’s team are on a run of five wins in six matches and Pulisic has been the driving force behind this streak.
This represents a remarkable turnaround in Pulisic’s individual fortunes as well. The USA international spent the majority of last season on the bench at Chelsea where he became a peripheral figure over time after making a €64m transfer from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019. Some doubted Pulisic would ever get back to this sort of level.
At Dortmund, Pulisic earned himself a reputation as one of the best young attackers in European soccer. When Chelsea signed him, their sporting director Marina Granovskaia described him as “one of Europe’s most sought-after young players,” and that felt appropriate. Pulisic was very much in that category.
As a Chelsea player, though, Pulisic wasn’t allowed to play his natural game. He is most dangerous when he has space to burst into, and Frank Lampard gave him this in the attacking third during his time as manager at Stamford Bridge. Thomas Tuchel, however, wasn’t so willing and marginalised Pulisic.
Tuchel’s system eliminated the wide attacker positions and so Pulisic had to adapt to playing as a wing back merely to get game time for Chelsea under the German coach. Pulisic did his best, but there was only so much he could be expected to do in an unfamiliar position. Chelsea never gave the American a fair chance to succeed.
Now, though, Pulisic is playing for a team – and a manager – willing to play to his strengths. Pioli signed the 25-year-old with the clear purpose of balancing out AC Milan’s attack, which had leaned heavily towards the left wing and Rafael Leao before Pulisic’s arrival, and that has simplified things for the former Chelsea winger. He is playing with clarity.
“He has quality, intensity and willingness,” said Pioli when asked to sum up the qualities Pulisic has brought to AC Milan this season. “He’s scoring a lot too which isn’t always easy for a winger. He can play in a number of roles. He is a great guy in the way he approaches and prepares for a game.”
AC Milan are one of the most dangerous counter-attacking teams anywhere in Europe and that style suits Pulisic – see the way he assisted AC Milan’s third goal in a recent win over Empoli, surging half the length of the pitch before setting up Chaka Traore for a simple finish. This is the sort of thing Pulisic can do.
Unfortunately for Pulisic, AC Milan are unlikely to win the Serie A title this season. Their inconsistent form over the autumn and into the early part of the winter period saw a gap open up between the Rossoneri and Inter and Juventus at the top of the table. The Scudetto will be decided in a two horse race not involving AC Milan.
However, AC Milan are retooling for the future. The San Siro club has refocused its transfer market attention in recent years and made a conscious effort to get younger. This has led to the signing of players like Yunus Musah, Noah Okafor and Malick Thiaw alongside Pulisic, who himself is not exactly a veteran at the age of 25.
As an important member of Pioli’s team, Pulisic has plenty to look forward at San Siro. AC Milan have dropped into the Europa League, a competition where they’re considered among the favourites to go the distance. The Rossoneri can also set themselves up for a Scudetto challenge next season by finishing the 2023/24 campaign strongly. They must keep their place in the top four.
For Pulisic as an individual, AC Milan looks like the perfect home for him in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup. He seemed reluctant to move on from Chelsea before the 2022 World Cup, but is now being rewarded for his decision to leave Stamford Bridge and find a club willing to embrace him. Pulisic looks like his old self again.
