Christian Pulisic spoke to the microphones of Il Giornale and discussed his positive performances with Milan in his first season in Serie A. Here is what he had to say to the newspaper's journalist, Franco Ordine:
Dear Pulisic, not bad at all. What explanation do you have?
"A very simple explanation: in the two years before Chelsea, I suffered a series of injuries and some changes in the coaching staff that didn't benefit me. Quite the opposite of what happened in Milanello: from the first day, I received the trust of everyone, and that was the turning point."
What rating would you give yourself?
"No more than seven."
Which is the most beautiful and which is the most important goal of these first 15?
"The most beautiful one was against Frosinone at San Siro: a long pass from Maignan and a goal. Couldn't be better! The most important one was the first one against Newcastle because it allowed us to continue in the cups, going from the Champions League to qualifying for the Europa League."
When will the first header goal come?
"As a boy, it happened to me, but not anymore. I will work on this aspect."
During the last transfer window, except for Marco Sportiello and then Mattia Gabbia, only foreigners arrived: how was it possible to understand each other quickly? he said:
"For those who frequent the dressing room of a European club, this is not a novelty. At the beginning, we encountered some difficulties, then each of us had to make an effort to understand Italian. Now I don't speak it fluently, but I understand it perfectly."
Pulisic arrived in Milan with a history as a left winger: at Milan, however, he immediately played well on the right, and if he sometimes returns to the left, he doesn't succeed as before. It's a peculiarity: how do you explain it?
"It's true, and sometimes, with the coaching staff, we joke about it: I'm no longer capable of playing on the left! The truth is that I've gotten so used to playing on the right, and I've benefited from it in scoring goals, thanks to a little secret."
What's that, sorry?
"It's called Rafa Leao. I've studied and understood how he moves. He usually attracts one, two, or three opponents, and then the defense is left unguarded somewhere else, so I move, go to the center of the area, confident that I will receive the right pass at the right time."
If Rafael Leao is so valuable to all of you, why do fans and insiders continue to criticize him?
"Because they remember his best days and expect him to always be at his best, every week, scoring 50 goals a season! He and I often talk about this, and I can assure you that Rafa is the first to know and to strive to give more to Milan and his career."
Ten months in Milan and Italy are enough to ask for a non-football judgment: how do you find it?
"I really like Italy, I like Milan. I live just outside the city, in the green and in tranquility, I love the cuisine, a bit less the weather these days: it's more like London than Milan, it always rains... I've been enchanted by the Milan world for the enthusiasm I feel at the stadium and in the city. I don't frequent the downtown bars much: if they see me, they get out of the car, stop me to ask for photos and autographs."
Footballers coming from England have a virtuous impact on our football, while Italians going to the Premier League don't always succeed: is there a reason?
"I don't have a precise answer on the subject. I'll try to formulate only a hypothesis considering the different characteristics: Serie A is much more tactical, the English league is much more physical and technical. If you come from the Premier League with these qualities, you can immediately perform at your best."
Besides goals, you have a curious record: you are one of the few who have never stopped due to injury in a team plagued by muscle strains. Have you visited any sanctuary? Pulisic answered:
"No, I take good care of my physique."
What effect did the protest of fans and the Curva Sud have on the dressing room in the two matches against Genoa and Cagliari?
"The fans have pushed and helped us throughout the season, with noise and enthusiasm, with full stadiums: for this reason, I respect their current mood."
The widespread skepticism about the future and the disappointment about the present are the result of the elimination by Roma and the 6 derby losses in a row: how do you explain them?
"I have no certainty on the matter. I can think that we faced these matches without the right organization, we didn't always defend properly, perhaps the strategy wasn't perfect, we became vulnerable by leaving the defensive phase exposed due to the desire to always attack."
When you arrived, you said: I accepted Milan after Stefano Pioli's phone call. What did you say that was so decisive?
"During that conversation, Pioli told me exactly what he wanted from me, in what role he would use me. And, unlike some of his colleagues, he never failed to that commitment throughout the season. I get along well with him."
