The signing of Christian Pulisic was met with a mixture of intrigue and excitement, but few predicted that he would start life in Italy as well as he has.
MilanNews write that Pulisic has had a dream start to being a Milan player with a stunning goal against Bologna in the first game and the opener against Torino last night.
Milan bet on the USA international, who arrived having been reserve for Chelsea and he cost €20m. So far he has showcased all the talent that he had made the Blues fall in love with him when he was just 18 years old and sign him for €60m.
Thanks to his technical and tactical characteristics, Pulisic has fit right in. His ability to move across the entire frontline is also an added bonus, given that in preseason we saw him play on the left and the right.
Now Pioli deploys him as a right winger in the 4-3-3 formation, but perhaps due to his flexibility and perhaps at the request of Pioli, he ends up taking up a very central position.
The goal in Bologna came from an exchange with Giroud in a central area, and he made a run deep into the box to make it 1-0 last night too.
It seems there is a nice complimentary relationship forming between Pulisic and Rafael Leao too. The Portuguese winger is unstoppable when he accelerates down the left, while the American is also a good ball carrier but perhaps has other more technical attributes.
Two game situations that allowed the team to open up spaces and always find themselves in numerical superiority, thus helping the midfielders to free themselves and enter more easily. And then the one with Giroud who has already been around since his Chelsea days: the two communicate without speaking, they know each other’s movements by heart and this makes it easier for the team to become dangerous in the box.
Sell Leao for $150M and change another 5 players. Way to go…
And why would they do that ? Leao have 5 years contract with 175m euro release clause, he is highest salary in ACM and he is happy here become key player for pioli tactic.
Sometimes all you need is to feel properly valued and motivated. The guy really pushed for the move and feels that he can become a central player, a protagonist for our side. This kind of thing can be determinant.
Hahahahah… I hope it’s just an irony….
“Come on, baby! Come on, baby! USA… USA…USA…” LMAO!!! Anyone catch that during the game?
It’s annoying af imao
Where you so-called fans who are waiting for Milan to fail so you can prove all the new signings are mediocre and the management don’t have a clue on what they’re doing. It’s time to admit you are wrong. We actually have better midfielders and wingers now for cheap. This what you called good and smart business
Chelsea never gave players time to develop chemistry. They ruined about 10 offensive players who were perfectly capable of playing in the prem by over-recruiting offensive players, ignoring strengthening their defense, and having no plan on offense. Players need a little time (not forever) to gel.
Pulisic will do well, and he will be better at assisting than he has even been at goals. Though I know that will distress the commenters here who have prophesied with such certainty that he will ride the bench.
The other thing that should be pointed out, since the headline calls him “Captain America” is that he hasn’t seemed to be fond of that title. This is NOT because he is a difficult person or doesn’t love his country (he does). It’s because the morons in the media have called EVERY American striker that was even average and managed to make it to Europe “Captain America.” They called Donovan and Dempsey and others CA. So find him a different nickname and he’ll love it. There was article that some fans were newly calling him “The Man in Milan.” Whether true or not, I’m sure he would love and accept that.
And he’s not even USMNT captain, Tyler Adams is.