Christian Pulisic shared his thoughts on his debut with AC Milan, navigating the team’s current difficulties, his time at Chelsea, and his preparations for the USMNT’s World Cup journey. He stated, “My focus is on scoring goals.”
The USMNT forward was notably featured on the cover of Time magazine, coinciding with the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
Throughout various interviews, Pulisic comes across as exceptionally serious and dedicated to his career, to the point where friends and teammates encourage him to relax more.
Pulisic aims to silence doubters
Pulisic became one of the early American success stories in European football, having played for Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and now Milan. Despite his achievements, he has also faced considerable criticism.
“When people suggest my time [at Chelsea] wasn’t successful, it’s interesting to me because I feel like that’s how everyone’s career progresses,” Pulisic commented on his spell with Chelsea. “It’s not a constant upward trajectory.”
He made an immediate impact at Milan after his 2018 transfer, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 victory against Bologna.
“I didn’t overthink things or dwell on every piece of advice,” Pulisic recalled. “I simply thought, ‘You know what? I’m just going to go out and play.'”
This direct approach has generally served him well. However, 2026 has presented a stark contrast, as he has yet to score a goal in any competition for either AC Milan or the USMNT.
When asked by Time about his strategy for overcoming this significant slump in form, his response was direct:
“My focus is on scoring goals. Such uninspired questions. I’m not worried about it.”
Yet, when he reflects on past challenging periods, such as being omitted from the Gold Cup squad last June, it becomes clear why his current form is particularly frustrating.
“That period was tough for me because normally I can silence critics with my performance on the field. That’s how I’ve operated my entire career. I was in my offseason, so people were talking about me, and I couldn’t just go out and score to prove them wrong.”
He has been playing regularly, but without the scoring output or the ability to silence his detractors.
“Driving towards the goal, creating attacking opportunities – that’s why I play the game,” he emphasized when discussing his mindset.
“Naturally, you have to contribute in other ways, like defending and running. That’s all well and good. But what brings me joy and excitement is finding ways to score, finishing those chances, and ultimately, scoring goals.”
Pulisic firmly believes that the United States has the potential to win the World Cup, but he refrains from making definitive promises.
“That’s just not how I operate. However, I can picture myself holding the World Cup trophy when I lie in bed at night. I’ve dreamed of that since I was a kid. I won’t stop believing. You have to believe. Why not?”