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Pulisic!

Sometimes
there's a message sent

without a word spoken.

These transfers will
absolutely close the door

on Christian's chances
of getting a regular place

in the Chelsea side.

Puli struggled a little bit

since he came back
from national break.

It's a bit like a broken record.

It's happened too often to us.

The man who trusted you most

to give you your
first team debut

now doesn't trust you enough
for you to play.

When you don't start

and you're not playing
regularly,

it does erode your confidence.

USA's Christian Pulisic

is offered his first
Chelsea start in 101 days.

So often it's about being
at the right place

at the right time.

And his move to Chelsea
would have been a dream.

You're getting to go
to one of the biggest teams

in the Premier League,

but it's so much more
than just that.

When people start to
say things about you like that

at the club, it's clear that
you're not wanted there anymore,

and that's not a good feeling.

So that's when I knew
that it was time to move on.

I think he got
a bit unlucky at Chelsea,

but he's a great player,

so he's gonna play with us.

Team like AC Milan
comes calling,

you don't really say no.

He had an offer from Lyon

and there was rumblings
that other big clubs

were making a play for him.

Well, we can now add Juventus

to a growing list
of big clubs

interested
in Christian Pulisic.

A list which already included

the likes of Manchester United,

Lyon and Galatasaray.

But the interesting one
was Milan,

because in the last couple
of seasons

we've seen an interesting
relationship

between Milan and Chelsea,

with the likes of Tomori,
Loftus-Cheek,

Olivier Giroud making that jump.

But this will be
an interesting one

because the relationship
between the two clubs

is already there.

We'll start with
the news that Christian Pulisic

has agreed terms
with AC Milan...

Christian Pulisic has
left Chelsea after four years

and completed a permanent
transfer to AC Milan.

Christian wants to move
to Milan as soon as possible.

If it meant him taking
less money, no problem.

It was a bold move
because it's a huge club,

one of the most famous clubs
in world football.

The move felt right,
the coach felt right,

and it was a matter of,
I just want to get there

and I want to get there
and start.

I mean, the relief
to have a coach who trusts you,

to have a new opportunity

to prove that you are the player

that you think you are...

He took it and ran with it.

With AC Milan,
it's a different ballgame.

You're gonna expect goals

and assists
straight off the bat.

That's not gonna be easy.

It's different.

When you score one goal,
you need to Italy,

it's like two goals in Europe.

I think that 100%.

This was a big club.

It was a club that a couple
of years back

had won the Scudetto,

a club that just made
semifinals of Champions League.

Who has the most
pressure to perform?

I think it's Christian.

They brought him on to deliver,
not to sit on the bench,

not to have an experience
like at Chelsea.

There's a certain level
of expectation

around representing that club.

I'm not sure that's where
Christian Pulisic needs to be.

There's always
that little aspect.

It's like, all right,
you're big in America.

That's cute,
but can you really do it here?

All right,
once you get seated,

uh, we'll start, I guess,
in Italy.

And, honestly, I can't believe
how happy he looks there.

Have you been to Italy?

I mean, going out
and training in London,

where it's raining
most of the year,

compared to training in Italy,

and to be able to enjoy
the rich culture there,

I've got to imagine that
that's a nice lifestyle change.

I mean, the culture,
the food, the passion.

When you're there,
it's like you're transported

to a different
century sometimes,

when you can't quite believe

that humanity was able
to create and conceive

such a thing of beauty.

I mean, this is one of the most
beautiful places on earth.

And they also have some
really good football teams.

People in Italy
go crazy about soccer.

They go crazy,
they talk about it 24/7.

It's just something you have
inside of your body.

It's culture,
it's a lifestyle.

It's something
that can encompass

every part of your being.
And you could feel it.

You see all the banners
that are unfurled,

the fireworks that are
going off.

It's completely different

than anything you see
in American sports.

Milan is definitely...

This sport is everything, man.

These teams here are
everything for the people.

So putting this jersey on,
you can feel the history.

You can kind of feel
the presence of people

who have won Ballon d'Ors,

or the trophies
that the club has won.

So, for me, it's, uh--

I don't take it lightly.

You feel the history?

So the Champions League final
from the year I was born,

not telling anybody
that was 1963.

- Did they get that for you?
- Yeah, yeah.

Even the floor
in AC Milan is special.

Where you see it's black,

it's bad a season.

Where you see it's red,

signifies winning
again and again.

There's a lot of red
up in front.

Oh, yes, right.
I see a lot of red coming up.

- So beautiful.
- You really know your stuff.

I try, listen--
Like you said,

it really is
an incredible club.

- Oh, yeah.
- And everywhere you look.

You see the trophies
that they're winning.

World club championships.

But in here, this, I think,
is what it's all about.

If you can have
a trophy cabinet,

like, maybe this is the same

as you've got at home,
I don't know.

Nothing like this, man.
This is--

This is unbelievable.

It's kind of special, right?

It's hard to believe

that most of these
Serie A teams that you see

are over a century old.

And for Milan now,
they're proudly

celebrating 125 years.

So just think of
all those decades,

all those generations.

I mean, these are genuinely

incredible histories
that these clubs

can be proudly wearing
on their kits.

And beautiful
pass to Rivera, he's on side.

He must score, surely.

And Prati has got his third
goal of the match.

If you look
historically, Milan,

there were some pretty
big players in Milan

and they won
some big trophies also.

This club has had
some players

that are generational,
not just world class,

but players that you cannot
find a copy of

for decades and decades.

I go back to that period
in the late '80s, early '90s,

the Dutch trio,
Marco Van Basten,

Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit,

Ballon d'Or winners
who have graced the club.

I mean, in the '90s,
they were so dominant

that they went 58 games
undefeated in the league.

And then you had the 2000s

with Andriy Shevchenko,
Kaká,

a player that had been
to the mountaintop

in world football.

And that's what Milan has been

for large parts
of their history,

whether it's the Scudetto

or the Champions League,

a competition
that only Real Madrid

has a better record in.

Milan is a team
that has been expected

to challenge on all fronts.

It's really on another level

because is not just to be
a football player.

Here you become
a part of a family.

So when you play
in a club like Milan,

you become a family member
of all Milanistas.

Milan are champions of Italy!

It's a football country

and when you're playing
those big teams there,

everyone loves you, man.

But my father always told me,
remember one thing,

those jerseys,
they're very heavy jerseys.

Not everyone can play there.

To the course we go.

Fast!

Fast-like!

The Italian culture,
it's something unlike

what I've experienced in this--

in this sport before.

Yeah!

Holy-- rocked my camera.

Sorry about that.

It means everything
to the people in Milan.

- Can I ask you a question?
- Yep.

Do you want to share
what you were--

what you were feeling
about confidence earlier?

Um...

But it's-- it's something
that you just have

to be conscious of because

there is a lot
of attention on you.

Mm...

Any feelings like,
what-- what's--

What--

But, you know,

I wouldn't want it
any other way.

Sometimes I would just say

I wish I was--

I don't know, man.

I'm playing at a high level
right now

with some of the best
in the world,

but I feel like
to stay on that level

and to reach that level,

you have to have this level
of confidence

that sometimes
I feel like I miss.

Like, I don't feel like I--

I don't know, I don't have
that, like, constant, like,

cocky confidence
that some of the best have.

- Hm.
- And that's--

That's the next step.

That's the next step
to get to the top, I think.

You know, from
an outsider looking in,

I think when you follow
a specific person,

you really see what
a roller coaster it can be

and all of the highs
and the lows.

So for Christian,
with the big move from England

to Italy, it really felt
like this was make or break.

Why Milan?

It's a historic club,
it's legendary,

and I'm really excited
to come here

and try to win
some titles here.

The move was gonna be
so important

because there are all
these questions

that started to arise
around Christian Pulisic, that,

oh, in America, he's Captain
America, he's great.

But in Europe,
ah, we're not sold yet.

And so if those questions
start to arise,

you know, that this next move
has to be the right move.

Is this good?

He's got the whole
weight on his shoulders,

you know,
coming from America

and, you know, playing for
the biggest teams in the world.

I think he likes that pressure.

He likes, you know,
taking on a challenge,

and he's ready to kick on and--

whatever comes his way,
he's ready to-- to take on.

I remember getting on a call
with Coach Pioli,

and he wanted
to just talk to me right away

and basically just telling me
how-- how interested he was,

how-- how he thinks I would fit
in his system

and, uh, that-- that
they would take care of me.

But between my Italian
and his-- and his English,

we kind of just had to make it
work at the beginning.

In a lot of ways, though,
going to a new club

with that language barrier,

it almost allows me to play
a bit free in a way,

because I always have
that excuse of like,

"Oh, I didn't understand."

So I can kind of
just go do my thing.

Si, si, si.

Milan hand debuts
to three of their new recruits.

Christian Pulisic
plays on the right

of a very exciting
Rossoneri front three.

Before he played
his first game,

I went on Milan TV and
all the guys were like,

all right, come on,

like, all right, Pulisic,

like, what-- what are we
really gonna get?

Like, is this legit?

But he was really lucky that

he was in a position
to succeed at Milan,

where the coach Pioli put him
at the center of his game.

He said, "You're gonna play
on this side,

you'll have this sort
of freedom"

and then unlocked him.

Here is Pulisic...

Brilliant!

It immediately became,

"Oh, my gosh,
this is not a joke."

Absolutely brilliant.

On his debut,
the American star

shining so brightly for Milan.

This is not a signing
just for headlines.

This is a really
talented player.

I think that
that early period

that Christian was able
to put his marker in the sand,

I think was critical
in his Milan career.

Because it gave him
an early chance

to stake his claim
as being the guy that

you got to start me
in the lineup

for the first league game.

The American scores

in his first two games
in Serie A.

And he was able
to perform from day one.

And San Siro
welcomes a new hero.

San Siro.

To play in the San Siro

every other week
in the Serie A.

And what he's doing as well,

he's not just playing
for AC Milan,

he's starting for AC Milan.

Watching him in Italy
from the very beginning,

- This is great.
- His grandmother from Italy,

the culture, the openness,

the way their footballers
are respected

and celebrated.

You saw him immediately, for the
first time in his club career,

play with his guard down.

Pulisic,
he's gonna go on his own.

Christian Pulisic!

I think, you know,
with different coaches,

different clubs,

they expect different
things from you.

I think that Chelsea, he was
more-- more of a creator,

you know, and now he's got
both sides of his game.

He's a creator
and he's a goal scorer.

I think finally
he had a coach that trusted him.

Pioli put a lot of faith
in Christian.

I think he made
Christian feel that,

you know, if you have
one bad game,

it's not the end of the world.

So I think from a mental
perspective,

having someone that
trusts you like that,

it gives you
all the confidence you need

to-- to go out
and do what you do.

And I think he repaid
their faith.

Pulisic
having that consistency

under Stefano Pioli,
I think was massive

for also avoiding injuries.

Even though it sounds like
this would be counterintuitive,

the more you play, the more
chances you get injured.

This wasn't the case
with Pulisic.

He was able to play, perform
consistently, score, assist.

It's like Formula One cars.

It's all about the details now

because the way
he's performing,

you just have to keep it
like a continuity.

And when the low level comes,

keep the low level
as high as possible.

Swing and miss by Tomori...

Oh! It's Pulisic!

And Milan are on the board.

He should be amongst
the conversations

of the best strikers
in the world, you know?

On the turn, Christian Pulisic!

When I see that
his first season here,

he did amazing,
scoring goals and assists

and really helping
the team, so...

Come on, guys, like,

he's the guy, you know?

Pulisic wants it
over the top,

the American's header!

And it's game on here.

Christian Pulisic and
his performances for Milan

have been simply outstanding.

And this is from someone

who I thought he was making
the wrong move.

When Milan needed

some of their players
to step up,

it was the one who has the most
goals on the pitch this season.

The way he's performing now,

it's really on an elite level.

He has been
AC Milan's face.

He has been AC Milan's
dominant force.

He is one of the most
potent players in Serie A.

and for American players,

that is a whole new reality.

You know, Milan paid
for Pulisic

something around 20, 25 millions

with same add-ons, as always
in-- in modern football.

But in my personal opinion,
the player today,

if you wanted to sell him today,

it's not gonna be less
than 60, 65 million euros.

And probably Milan are
not selling him for 60 today.

I hope so, because
they need a player like him.

But all the teammates
and even the fans

can see how Christian Pulisic
every single time

is showing how committed
he is to AC Milan

and to showing how important
is for him every single game.

So in terms of image,
in terms of marketing,

now it's very clear that
Christian is one of the faces,

if not the face of this--
of this Milan project.

And let me say,
it's unbelievable.

So this is absolutely
the best piece of business

they did in the recent years.

Well, think about how well
this has worked out for Milan.

They get a player
for much less money

than what he's worth now.

He's an immediate impact player

and some could say
their best player.

And on top of all that,
you now have Captain America.

So you have a leg up over
every other club

in the most lucrative,

important market
in the world, America.

Ahead of Christian's
second season with the team,

the US Was picked as a place

for the team
to train in the summer.

They like to take the players
outside of a city

where they normally train,

away from family, just so
they're really, really focused

and can start the season
in the best way possible.

So we played a game
in Yankee Stadium,

which for me was like
the pinnacle of matches.

To see Milan play
in the Yankee Stadium

is, uh, is something incredible.

I mean, I never
would've imagined it

if you told me this
when I was growing up.

Let's give it up!

Partly for the fact
that it's Milan coming there,

but also for it being
in a baseball stadium.

And it's a day of celebration.

You know, the Yankees
are part owners of AC Milan,

who are one of the biggest

sports brands in the world.

Tremendous connections.

And so to be able to have
a collab like that

featuring Americans on the team
is really important.

My nonno made me
a Milan fan.

He never had a son,
I was the first boy for him,

so he got me a Milan scarf.

And ever since then
I just followed the team.

Thankfully, she's hopped
on the bandwagon.

I really have. Yeah,
it's all thanks to him, so--

My uncle.
I would go over to his house

every Sunday after church.

He had about a 13 inch TV
in his kitchen.

I can go and I sit with my zio

and I watch
the partita with him.

It's a once in a lifetime
opportunity

to have AC Milan
here in Chicago.

We don't have an opportunity
to travel to Italy,

see Serie A games.

So this is really a once
in a lifetime opportunity.

We weren't gonna miss it.

- Ciao, come stai?
- How are you? How are you?

- We are from Dallas.
- From Dallas?

It's huge for us because
we needed somebody like Pulisic.

The name, the brand,
an American soccer player

to come in and help
grow the Milan brand,

but also the homegrown talent

and the fact
that they're able to see it

with the team that
we've loved for so long,

it's actually really special.

You have to think, Milan fans,

you're supporting a team
that plays 3,000 miles away.

It's not easy to support a team
that plays that far.

So you almost even get
a stronger connection

than those in Italy because
you don't take it for granted.

Thanks, man.
Appreciate it.

You're like, I'm waking
up at 9:00 in the morning.

Even earlier.
6:00 in the morning.

If you're in LA,
3:00 in the morning,

this is your opportunity

to see that team in the flesh,

even if they don't play at 100%.

It's a way to represent
the pride that you have

in the team that you support
all year long.

Coming on for AC Milan,

Number 11, Christian Pulisic!

You know,
getting a standing ovation

when I walk on the field
at Yankee Stadium,

I get goosebumps
in those moments.

It's-- it's incredible.

I never get used
to seeing his name

on the back of jerseys either.

Like that just blows my mind
every time, every single time.

I mean,
I never pictured

something like that possible.

Playing soccer with
my European club

and people
even knowing who I am

is still mind-boggling to me.

Those games in the U.S.,

I mean, every time
he touched the ball,

there was just cheers for him.

And it made me really proud
of the work

that we've been doing to
continue to support Christian,

because right now
he is our best player.

I remember when I first
saw Christian play for Milan

and I remember thinking,
"Wow, he looks so happy."

I saw the smile on his face
before and after the game

and how he interacted
with his teammates.

And I think that
really translated

into how he was playing because
he played with so much joy

and so much freedom.

And in the past couple
of seasons

when I'd seen him at Chelsea,

not that he had a heaviness
about him,

but it was almost a sense

of he wasn't entirely
comfortable at Chelsea.

With Milan, it was a completely
different story from the get go.

It's been a breath of
fresh air at times, for sure.

Kind of come into
a new situation

and just being able to prove
myself as a player

and just getting to
a place in my life where

I think
I'm in a different space.

Mentally. Not just in the game,

but also just in my life.

He's a bit of a
different character

on and off the pitch, you know?

He's such a cool guy
off the pitch.

And seeing him focused
in game mode,

I'm just like,
who is this person?

You know?

But it's nice,
you know, someone who can

easily switch from,
you know, serious football mode

to, you know, his joking self.

I just want to thank you
for your services.

You know?

There were peanut butter
and jellies being toasted,

you know, between school
and training sessions

in Dortmund when I was 15.

He's really funny and loud

and silly and all those things.

There were dinners
made here in Italy,

the finest Italian food,
you know?

I think he's kind
of found a really

good spot, you know,
especially right now,

um, you know, in Milan.

I feel like he's found it.

You've done everything
that I could have asked to do.

And for that I thank you.

Aw.

- Out with the old--
- Whoa! Just kidding.

In with the new.

And say hello...!

You know, that's--
Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Things can get pretty crazy.

It's easy to forget,
but, you know,

sometimes they're just kids.

We've seen some pretty
funny videos of Christian.

Yeah, the one him
and Dan did, right? Yeah.

Yeah.
It's fantastic.

When Dan shot
his personal best,

it was the first video that
was sent in the group.

And I just couldn't believe
what I was seeing.

And they were so excited.

'Cause Dan finally broke 100
or whatever it was.

And it was just--
it was just classic.

When someone breaks their
own record, you know,

or they have beat
their best score,

we just do
a little dance video.

Just kind of for fun.

You know, celebrate.

- ♪ Won't you take me to...♪
- ♪ Funkytown? ♪

Oh, man.
Bogey boy was bad.

This round
isn't cheering me up.

- We needed this today.
- We did.

Only problem is the second
hardest hole

on the course is up next.

What to do what to do.

Bring them all, you know?

♪ Gotta make a move to a town
that's right for me ♪

- Smart play.
- Had to be done.

- It's good.
- I think so.

Where's your ball?

♪ Well, I talk about it,
talk about it ♪

♪ Talk about it, talk about it ♪

♪ Talk about, talk about,
talk about movin' ♪

♪ To [humming] Funkytown ♪

♪ Funkytown ♪

♪ Gotta move on ♪

Let's go!

And that's how
Funkytown came about.

That's-- that's
the Funkytown special.

Yeah. I didn't know--

I didn't know that would be--
that would be out there.

Dan made sure to get
that one on the camera.

So yeah, that's how
that started.

Hey, Mark.

♪ Won't you take me to
Funkytown? ♪

This kid, sub 80s today.

How'd you see that?

Don't worry about it.

No, gosh. Oh, man.

Dude, I'm regretting--

I'm regretting that.

♪ Won't you take me to
Funkytown? ♪

78 from the yellow tees.

First time breaking 80
from the yellows.

Dan sub 100 from the yellows.

Unbelievable.
Up and down.

- We're back, baby!
- Right at it.

Oh, gosh.

I didn't think that video
was gonna get anywhere.

That's good to know
that you guys have that.

I think the biggest thing is--

it's not like
Pulisic reinvented himself.

He found himself again.

He started playing free.

He went back to the Pulisic
that we knew and loved

and played great football.

How does it feel
different this year?

Second season.

Yeah, it's like more expectation

but also more confidence.

I've shown everyone
that I can do it.

Now it's--

Can I run it back?

Milan revived him in a way

and made him even better
than he was.

He is in the best place
he can be

and I've never seen him more
happy than he is today.

...and in behind
for Theo Hernandez,

gives it back in towards
Rafa Leão

and Pulisic!

His first of the season!

He is completely different.

He started this chapter like,

"Okay, let's explore this new
country,

this new opportunity to play

for a big club like Milan."

But now you can see he's really
the leader of this team.

People were asking me

what you need to do
to play and perform.

And I always said
that it's on you

to show people
what you need to do.

Right now you are doing that
every week.

Have I seen a difference?

Nah. I think Christian's
always been a baller.

Like you can just tell it,

you can tell
in his demeanor, like,

you know, he's flying.

You know, when you're
enjoying the game

and you're playing free,
you have confidence.

You're going to bring out
your best version of yourself.

And that's what
I was feeling last year

and gonna continue to bring
that in into this year...

What he's been doing, he's--

He's different right now.

And look who it is!

Christian Pulisic!

Going into the next season,

I wanted to get off
to a good start.

Pulisic! Oh!

At the stop!

Getting some goals right away
and feeling good

'cause it helps, it grows
your confidence so much.

Now it's Christian Pulisic

for Chukwueze!

How's the Italian coming out?

I've heard some of your Italian.

Um...

It's getting better.
It's getting better.

I think it's also
really important

to kind of show
that I'm at least

willing to try
to speak Italian

to respect the club,
the country, and the fans.

I know my Italian's
not perfect,

and I think it's more
of the appreciation

that you try a bit.

They're probably not
the best interviews ever.

They might be a little
short-answered,

but I think it's something you
just have to kind of jump into.

Honestly, I hate
listening to myself speak.

I'm just like,
ugh, I'm so cringe.

♪ Won't you take me to
Funkytown? ♪

♪ Won't you
take me to Funkytown? ♪

♪ Won't you take me to
Funkytown? ♪

♪ Won't you
take me to Funkytown? ♪

♪ Won't you take me to
Funkytown? ♪

♪ Won't you
take me to Funkytown? ♪

♪ Won't you take me to
Funkytown? ♪

♪ Won't you
take me to Funkytown? ♪

♪ I wanna go to Funkytown ♪

♪ I wanna go ♪

♪ To Funkytown ♪

♪ I wanna go ♪

♪ To Funkytown ♪

♪ I wanna go ♪

♪ To Funkytown ♪