Pulisic sheds light on ‘perfect step’ at Milan, working with Ibrahimovic and trophy aim | OneFootball

Christian Pulisic had shed some light on what it has been like to swap Chelsea for AC Milan, also speaking about his relationship with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Pulisic has had quite the career already having played in three of the ‘top five’ European leagues with four years, for three top European clubs too in Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and now Milan.

Nowhere has he hit form like he has with the Rossoneri, though, as he continues to be the attacking talisman this season after a brilliant debut campaign. He has worked under three head coaches already too in Stefano Pioli, Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceicao.

Pulisic is expected to renew his contract soon and was on the cover of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated and he spoke about the journey of his career so far up to the current moment.

“In some ways, I’ve changed a bit, grown up a bit as a person, as a man, [figuring out] the path I want to take in my life. I don’t think I’m that much different,” he began.

“I think everyone goes through it as a football player. You go through different stages in your career. Sometimes you change clubs. As anyone gets older, you start to figure out who you are, exactly what you want, what direction you want to take in your life.

”[The Bundesliga] really taught me how to become a professional just because that was my first step. The Premier League was just dealing more and more with the pressure that comes with, I think, England and the Premier League.

“Now with Milan, It’s been the perfect step for me [because] the club put a lot of trust in me right from the start and I had a really good start. I think it’s taught me a lot more [about] consistency and playing at the highest level.”

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Conceição was appointed as Milan’s new boss on December 30 following the firing of Fonseca after a 1-1 draw against Roma, and Pulisic has admitted the transition is not necessarily the easiest.

“It’s tough when you get a new manager [for him] to really put his stamp on things, especially when he comes in the middle of a season. [It can be] really difficult because you’re playing every couple of days.

“I think [for me I just need to] continue working like I am I think putting more of a focus on the intensity against the ball for me. And because I feel like when I’m doing that, I’m in a good place … just to be free with the ball and to take risks. I think [Conceição] is very clear on that for us attacking players, especially to make sure that you’re not afraid.

“I think [he’s] just very, very passionate. You can tell the passion that he has for the game and just his winning mentality. … He really cares and that’s what you need in a coach.

“Getting off to a good start, making me comfortable and just giving me the confidence to be one of the best players and to have that confidence to express myself and to feel a bit freer in my game.

“I’m very free when I’m on the pitch now, and confident. I think that’s one of the best things that you can have as an attacking player, especially in football.

“… All the people from top to bottom have really given me that trust as well as my teammates who make me feel really comfortable and welcome.”

One of the biggest things for the American is that he has stayed fit and available for selection as a Milan player, something that he struggled to do in London.

Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

“I think that’s one of the biggest superpowers that you can have, as a footballer, to stay fit as long as you can. Players always have their ups and downs throughout their careers. For me, it was just finding more consistency. In some ways, playing more regularly can help in a lot of ways in finding that rhythm,” Pulisic added.

He then went on to speak about his relationship with Ibrahimovic, who returned to the club as a Senior Advisor in December of 2023.

“It’s been a good relationship, I think right from the start. I think he told me straight up what I can expect from the club. … Once you get to know him he’s pretty straightforward.

“He’ll tell you exactly what he’s saying, what he’s thinking, which is important for me. I think through some of the tough times as well in the club, he’s reached out to me … he cares a lot about the players.

“He asks, ‘How’s your head? How’s your head doing’ … because he wants us to be able to arrive at training and have everything focused on what’s going on the pitch.

“And I think he makes sure that he tells us if everything is good away from the pitch, that you’re going to be good and everything’s going to be fine.”

Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

On the Supercoppa final, he added: “It felt like a final, you have those nerves. You just want to get out on that field and play. It was crazy in [Saudi Arabia] because the games were around 10 p.m., so you’re waiting around all day, you’re anxious to play.”

Pulisic recalled making his debut in front of over 75,000 fans at San Siro and the emotions that it gave him.

“Debuts with the club, you never forget … the biggest time is the first home game, when you really feel it wearing the home jersey with the black and red,” he said.

“When you go in San Siro, that’s the moment when you come to Milan. Putting on the shirt, the pressure, the nerves, but also the excitement and what comes with the club.

“I think when you look at dreams, it’s winning the biggest trophies in football, being able to celebrate with your teammates after long, hard seasons.”