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Today, Christian Pulisic has revealed that AC Milan are aiming to win the Scudetto, showing that the goalposts may have changed.
Throughout the season so far, everyone has stated that the aim for the season is to qualify for the Champions League. Even recently, no one has been really dragged into the Scudetto idea, even if it was growing in possibility.
This has been the case since the summer, though. Of course, players have said they want to win trophies. However, the caveat has always been that the goal was to reach the top four after last season’s underperformance.
Scudetto, prime and the future
Now, though, it is impossible to avoid the idea that the Scudetto could be possible. The Rossoneri have consistently sat in the top four and are only two points off the top spot. So, optimism is rising.
It seems that this is the case inside the club, too, with Christian Pulisic admitting to Paramount+ that the squad wants to win the Scudetto, as MilanPress relayed.
“AC Milan’s request [to keep him at Milanello during the international break]? Talking to the people at AC Milan, but also when I left the national team, we had good conversations. I haven’t come back yet; I don’t think it’s right for me to fly there and play my first match with the national team.
“I just want to make sure I have the right amount of time to recover from my injury and put it behind me. I think it’s the best decision for everyone now. Too soon? Yes.”
Injuries…
“All these thoughts come to mind: why now? At the beginning of the season, everything was going so well. It seems like that’s how it went, but honestly, I trust in God’s timing. I think it’s the best thing for me, and to be honest, it’s not the worst thing that could have happened.
“I was out for a couple of weeks, and now I’m back, so I’m lucky it didn’t get any worse, so I try to look at it from a positive perspective.
“As a footballer, the moments when you’re injured and can’t play on weekends are the worst. We work hard to try to stay fit and available as much as possible, and those moments can be really difficult because you just want to get back on the pitch and help your team.
“You have to watch from the bench. It’s really tough, and then you’re there on the physio couch watching your team train, and it’s really difficult. It’s a difficult situation, but I think that’s exactly the feeling that drives you to want to get back as quickly as possible.
“It was tough, but now I’m back with the group and I feel much better.”
Goals for the season…
“Am I in my prime? I’m at a good age in my career, probably in my best moment physically. I’ve learned a lot. I always say I hope my prime is next season because that’s always my goal. But if this is my prime, I want to enjoy it. But I definitely feel like I’m living my best moment in football right now.”
“The Scudetto? That’s our goal, definitely. I don’t want to look at it from the negative side, like it will be if we don’t win. We’ll do our best, and we’ll be judged game by game.
“There have been seasons where I haven’t won anything, but we’ve done so many great things. When you win that trophy, there’s nothing like it; the work pays off.
“Scoring goals is a private matter, at least for me. I wouldn’t share it. There’s enough pressure on us; there’s no need to put more. People don’t realise the pressure we put on ourselves. I ask a lot of myself, but all professionals do. I set goals to help the team.”
Inside the dressing room…
“I don’t make myself heard vocally; I’m more reserved, quiet in the group. It’s my personality in life; people can see it. But I’ve grown a bit in my career, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind.
“Did Modric give us iPhones as an initiation rite? Yes, I didn’t know this had come out. I don’t know if I should confirm it, but yes.
“You should sing in front of the team. But when you’re Luka Modric and you’ve won the Ballon d’Or, the Champions League, you can skip that process. And then you don’t say no to new iPhones. It’s a win-win situation.
“My initiation song? It’s embarrassing. I sang Miley Cyrus’s Party in the USA, I thought it was appropriate. I think I did something similar at Chelsea. It’s the worst moment in the world. I hate it; it makes me cringe. You see people so uncomfortable.”
Italian life and the future…
“My Italian has improved a lot, and I feel much more confident in interviews now. I did a first telephone interview and found it difficult because I couldn’t see the person. I’m at a similar level to when I spoke German better.
“I like it here, I like the Italian culture, which I find very calm. I like the people, and the food is also very good. Does it beat London? Definitely.
“Where will I be when I retire from football? I’ve thought about it. I don’t know, it depends on where my career takes me. I’ll definitely spend some time in the United States. I’ve been away from my family for a long time.
“It’s hard to know when it’s time to retire. Looking at him [Modric] now, I see at least ten years ahead of me. I want to keep going as long as possible. I see Luka in the dressing room: this guy is 40 years old and is performing like a 10-year-old.
“I wonder how he does it. I hope I can hold out, too. We’re so lucky to have this job.
“In my free time, I go home and play a lot of chess online against strangers. I like to use a fake name and a Croatian flag so I don’t get recognised. My grandfather, Mate, taught me to play chess, and I still play it.
“The Croatian side has always been important. My grandfather was always a Croatian fan and loved Luka Modric. It’s really nice to come full circle and play with him. I grew up in the United States and never learned the language. I’m proud of my roots.
Social media and the documentary…
“It’s not that I don’t trust it [social media], but I don’t want to add extra voices about myself. Some people are more adept at sharing their lives, and that’s fine. I’m more of a private person; it’s a personal decision. I don’t check social media much. Sure, you see news and stuff, but it’s easier to delete apps to avoid negative comments.
“I’ve always asked myself, ‘Why did I do the documentary?’. No, come on, it wasn’t that bad. I always made it clear that I didn’t want a big crew following me. It was hard to let people into my life, but it was the right thing to do in view of the World Championships to inspire kids.
“It was about sharing what I’ve experienced in my career, and it was difficult. I’ve seen almost all of it, but some things are hard to rewatch. Hearing you talk a lot is not something I like.”
English (US) ·