As the American himself acknowledged, it was a “Olympic stroke of luck.” Nevertheless, the goal helped Milan’s number 11 break open a surprisingly complex match against Club Brugge (where Milan finally secured their first Champions League win) and allowed him to further improve his statistics. Everyone started yelling or talking about a “Olympic goal” right away.
Pulisic’s pivotal part in Milan’s equilibrium.
When the team acquired him from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, many people were taken aback. He was one of the most promising young players when he joined the Premier League in 2019 at the age of 21, but because of health problems, unreliable management, and Chelsea’s propensity to swiftly fall in and out of love with players, he progressively fell into the background. In essence, Pulisic was viewed as a liability rather than an asset.
Under Stefano Pioli and now Paulo Fonseca, Milan has a totally different tale. They discovered a fit, technically flawless player who is prepared to make sacrifices in Pulisic. Without sacrificing efficiency, he is prepared to switch from his favourite left wing to Leao’s.
He has even played defence, as demonstrated when Milan was reduced to 10 men against Udinese. He finished as a centre midfielder in the 4-3-3 against Bruges, after Fonseca added Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze to the flanks in an attempt to increase verticality. This decision paid off, as the game ended in a 3-1 draw.
Thus, Pulisic is a player who would be ideal for Milan.
This is particularly true for an American-owned club that now has an American leader. In addition, he leads the U.S. national team as captain. His ascent stands in stark contrast to the slow performance of the player he left behind at Chelsea, as evidenced by their combined goals and assists.
The coach and supporters are now appreciating Pulisic’s contributions and are anticipating Rafael Leao’s eventual change of direction and improvement.
