Pulisic & the Milan stars putting Chelsea to shame

Christian Pulisic and AC Milan's group of former Chelsea players are outperforming the Blues, making them look inferior in comparison.

San Siro has become a sanctuary for former Chelsea players seeking refuge from their troubled former club, with Christian Pulisic notably thriving in this environment.

Although Christian Pulisic's goal in AC Milan's comfortable victory over Lecce may not have held significant weight in the broader context, it was met with enthusiastic celebrations from Milan's players, coaching staff, and fans. This reaction highlights Pulisic's remarkable progress and growing importance since joining San Siro last summer. Even the club's kit man, Hesham Hassan, took to social media to highlight Pulisic's ability to score with his supposedly weaker left foot.

In response, Pulisic jokingly acknowledged his attentiveness to feedback, indicating his receptiveness to improvement. Indeed, Pulisic's current success at Milan is a testament to his ability to absorb guidance and adapt accordingly.

Attitude shone through

Stefano Pioli has conducted numerous video calls with potential signings throughout his career, but few have been as successful as his conversation with Pulisic last summer. While Pioli was already aware of Pulisic's on-field abilities, their discussion revealed a positive aspect of his personality that impressed the Milan coach.

Pioli noted Pulisic's eagerness, curiosity, and genuine interest in their conversation, traits that signaled to him that Pulisic was an exemplary professional and a hard worker who would strengthen Milan.

For Pulisic, the call was pivotal in his decision-making process. He was aware that he needed to leave Chelsea to rejuvenate his career, and departing Stamford Bridge was an obvious choice given the circumstances. The question remained: where to go?

Despite Lyon's interest and potentially higher financial offer to Chelsea, Pulisic was attracted to Milan for several reasons. Firstly, he was drawn to the club's illustrious history and status as one of the biggest clubs in world football, despite recent challenges. Additionally, the opportunity to play at San Siro, known as La Scala del Calcio, appealed to him greatly.
Most importantly, Pulisic received encouragement from familiar faces to join Milan, which ultimately played a significant role in his decision.

Bit like Eden Hazard

Olivier Giroud began promoting a move to San Siro for his former Chelsea teammate even before the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign. He described Christian Pulisic as a cheerful individual with a positive attitude, emphasizing the benefits of having him in the dressing room. However, Giroud's desire for Pulisic to join Milan stemmed from more than just his personality.

Giroud highlighted their on-field chemistry, likening it to his partnership with Eden Hazard at Chelsea, despite having fewer opportunities to play alongside Pulisic. He praised Pulisic's skillful abilities, including dribbling and link-up play, and expressed hope for his recovery from injuries to showcase his talent consistently.

Giroud believed that Pulisic's addition to Milan would be well-received by fans and would significantly contribute to the team's success.

Agent Tomori

Giroud wasn't the only former Chelsea player advocating for Christian Pulisic to join Milan. According to an interview with Pulisic's father, Mark, Fikayo Tomori also played a significant role in helping Pulisic decide on his next move after Chelsea.

Although Tomori didn't have as much playing time alongside Pulisic as Giroud did, his enthusiasm for Pulisic joining Milan was evident. Despite spending most of his time at Chelsea on loan, Tomori understood the advantages of transitioning from Stamford Bridge to San Siro.
Tomori's contributions to Milan haven't gone unnoticed.

Despite being inexplicably overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate, Tomori is highly esteemed in Milan. After initially joining on loan in January 2021, he made his move permanent just six months later for a fee of £25 million ($32m). This proved to be a remarkable bargain, with Tomori being recognized in the Serie A Team of the Year for his pivotal role in Milan's first Scudetto triumph in 11 years during his inaugural full season in Italy.

He said wonderful things about Milan

It was inevitable that Fikayo Tomori's remarkable transformation at Milan would serve as a source of motivation not only for Christian Pulisic but also for Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Like Tomori, Loftus-Cheek had risen through the ranks at Chelsea and had shown great potential during Maurizio Sarri's tenure. However, similar to Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek's development was hindered by the instability at Stamford Bridge and a series of injuries.

Tomori played a pivotal role in encouraging both Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek to consider Milan as a place to rejuvenate their careers. Loftus-Cheek acknowledged that he had extensive conversations with Tomori, who spoke highly of Milan's environment, including the team, the city, and the fans. Tomori's assurances gave Loftus-Cheek confidence that Milan would be the ideal place for him to rediscover his best form.

As Loftus-Cheek confirmed, Tomori's guidance proved to be accurate, as Milan provided the perfect platform for him to thrive once again.

Loftus-Cheek like Milinkovic-Savic!

Milan's season has been characterized by both highs and lows, with significant investments made in the transfer market last summer, although not all signings have yielded the desired results. However, the acquisitions of Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic have proven to be excellent investments for the club.

In particular, Loftus-Cheek has exceeded Stefano Pioli's expectations. Initially perceived as a box-to-box midfielder during his time at Chelsea, Pioli was surprised by Loftus-Cheek's offensive prowess and aerial ability upon his arrival at Milan. Recognizing these strengths, Pioli made the strategic decision to deploy Loftus-Cheek as a No.10 in his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, a move that has paid dividends. Loftus-Cheek's impressive performances have seen him score 10 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions, prompting Pioli to draw comparisons to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, whom he coached at Lazio.

I've learned a lot

Pulisic is enjoying the best form of his career, having already contributed to 21 goals in all competitions, with 14 of those in Serie A alone, marking his most productive league campaign to date.

His recent goal against Lecce highlights his increased effectiveness, surpassing his open-play goal tally at Chelsea for the season. While Chelsea languish in mid-table in the Premier League, Milan sits second in Serie A and anticipates a Europa League quarter-final clash with Roma.

Pulisic's versatility has also garnered praise, as he consistently delivers performances regardless of his position on the pitch. Despite initially preferring to play on the left, he has adapted well to the right flank, demonstrating growth and evolution in his game.
Regular first-team opportunities have been instrumental in Pulisic's development, allowing him to overcome occasional challenges and play more minutes than anticipated. Taking care of his body and maintaining consistency in his performances have been key factors in his success this season.

Moreover, Pulisic's receptiveness to feedback and willingness to learn have played a significant role in his improvement.