Christian Pulisic has shared his perspective on his integration into AC Milan, navigating the team’s current challenges, reflecting on his time at Chelsea, and preparing for the upcoming World Cup with the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT). His clear intention is: “I plan on scoring goals.”
The prominent USMNT forward recently graced the cover of Time magazine, coinciding with the excitement surrounding the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
Throughout a series of interviews, Pulisic comes across as remarkably focused and dedicated to his career, to the extent that friends and teammates occasionally encourage him to relax more.
Pulisic’s Drive to Silence Critics
Pulisic has been a trailblazer for American talent in Europe, achieving recognition at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and now Milan. However, his journey has also been marked by significant criticism.
“When people suggest it wasn’t a successful period, I find it interesting because I feel that’s how everyone’s career progresses,” Pulisic commented on his tenure at Chelsea. “It’s not a constant upward trajectory.”
Upon his arrival at Milan in 2018, he made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 victory against Bologna.
“I didn’t overthink things or dwell too much on instructions,” Pulisic recalled. “I just thought to myself, ‘You know what? I’m just going to go out and play.'”
This assertive approach has generally served him well. However, 2026 has presented a challenging period, as he has yet to score a goal in any competition for either AC Milan or the USMNT.
When Time magazine inquired about his strategy for overcoming this significant dip in form, his response was direct:
“I plan on scoring goals. Those are bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.”
Yet, when he reflects on past difficult moments, such as being omitted from the Gold Cup squad last June, it becomes clear why his current scoring drought is particularly frustrating.
“That period was tough for me because, typically, I can silence people with my performance on the field. That’s what I’ve done throughout my career. I was in my offseason, so people were just talking about me, and I couldn’t just go out and score to shut them up.”
While he has been a consistent presence on the field, the goals and the silencing of critics have not materialized.
“Driving towards the goal, creating attacking opportunities – for me, that’s why I play the game,” he emphasized when discussing his mindset. “Of course, you have to contribute in other areas, defend, run, and do different things. That’s all fine. But what brings me joy and excitement is devising ways to score, finding the back of the net, and finishing chances.”
Pulisic firmly believes that the United States has the potential to win the World Cup but refrains from making concrete promises.
“That’s just not how I operate. But I can sit in my bed at night and picture myself holding up the World Cup trophy. I envisioned that as a child. I’m not going to stop. You have to believe. Why not?”
