In a recent analysis, Paolo Di Canio elucidates the potential for Christian Pulisic to excel further within the Italian football context, highlighting the pivotal disparities between his performances at Milan and Chelsea.
Since his notable €20 million transition to San Siro during the summer transfer window, the striker has exhibited an unparalleled peak in form, amassing 12 goals and delivering eight assists across 39 competitive fixtures. Notably, within a single season, he has eclipsed his personal record for goal-scoring and equaled the achievement of Weston McKennie, midfielder for Juventus, as the leading all-time scorer for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in Serie A, with nine goals.
Speaking in his capacity as a pundit on Sky Sport Italia, Di Canio remarked, “Pulisic boasts significant experience and a track record of triumphs throughout his career.” He further emphasized Pulisic’s attributes as a pacey player with adept ball control, swift decision-making capabilities, and posited that his potential could be even more fully realized in the Italian football milieu. Di Canio attributed this potential to Pulisic’s improved consistency owing to his reduced susceptibility to injuries, contrasting his experience at Milan favorably with his time at Chelsea.
Di Canio elaborated on Pulisic’s impact on the field, citing his versatility as a winger capable of cutting inside and engaging in intricate combinations. He recounted Pulisic’s recent match wherein the player showcased his exceptional speed, sprinting 50 meters to capitalize on a tap-in opportunity, underscoring the significance of his enduring physical freshness.
While Pulisic encountered minor muscular setbacks during his tenure at Milan, notably in October and November of the current season, these incidents pale in comparison to the protracted absences endured during his tenure at Chelsea. Noteworthy injuries include an ankle sprain in 2021, a knee injury in January 2023, and an adductor tear in January 2020.