AC Milan are, once again, in America this summer, and Christian Pulisic has taken a chance to speak about his footballing journey so far and offered some insight into his goal celebration.
When reflecting on last summer’s mercato, no one has been as much of a success as Christian Pulisic has been. With Samuel Chukwueze signed, it was unknown what role the American attacker would play, but he quickly established himself as a key player.
In the mercato, he was an opportunity. Chelsea were selling a player with a still high ceiling, and Milan took their chance, and they have looked back smiling since.
At 25 years old, he still can progress further as a player, and he likely will, especially if his first season in Serie A is anything to go off. In 36 appearances, he contributed 20 times, giving the Rossoneri some much-needed balance to their attack, and that shouldn’t slow down now.
With the Diavolo signing a striker like Alvaro Morata – a striker who has regularly received compliments for his ability to bring other players into the attack – his output should continue at a similar rate, if not increase.
Given Milan are now in America before their game against Manchester City, the winger spoke to Jimmy Fallon on ‘The Tonight Show’ about his route to the Rossoneri and the thinking behind his goal celebration, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.
You have done so much for football in America. What does it mean to have reached these levels for a guy who started out in Pennsylvania?
“To this day for me it’s incredible: I never thought I’d be in this position, doing what I love for a living…. Unbelievable.”
When was the first time you thought about becoming a professional footballer?
“My first memory is with a football. Maybe when I was 6-7 years old and moved to England. Somehow I knew it. Almost every year on Halloween I dressed up as a footballer, I wasn’t very creative.”
Why football?
“Both my parents played. My dad played professionally and my mum was probably the best footballer of the two – she was a great player.”
When do you use video games?
“Well when you first get into the video game, you definitely want to use yourself to play: it’s the coolest thing ever”
On the Eye of the Tiger celebration after goals: did you tattoo the tiger on purpose?
“No, not exactly: that wasn’t the plan, that wasn’t a jubilation, but when I did it the tattoo artist told me to try it to see if it lined up perfectly. I was 18-19 years old.”
What’s going on at Yankee Stadium?
“Yes, we have a big game against Manchester City next Saturday at Yankee Stadium: I mean a football game at Yankee Stadium… Am I excited before games? Yes usually and, honestly, even more so when I play in the States: it’s always nice to be home and play with my European club in the States, it’s nice.”
Do you entertain your European teammates?
“They always ask me. Last year we were in Los Angeles and they were saying, ‘Come on Christian it’s your country, show us around’. And I was like, ‘But I’m from Hershey, Pennsylvania…’ New York is a little bit closer so maybe I can make something up…”
