Moving On: USMNT Midfielder Christian Pulisic Signs A Four-Year Deal With AC Milan (Italy)

 

    I have long said that Christian Pulisic is the greatest American male soccer player that we have ever produced. The USMNT captain and midfielder is still only 24 years old even though it feels like he has been around for much longer than that. Today, his long rumored transfer from Chelsea (England) to AC Milan (Italy) was finally confirmed as he signed a four-year contract with the Serie A giants. If you think that going from one of the top clubs in the Premier League to AC Milan is a lateral move, then you have not been paying attention to Chelsea lately. They finished in 12th place (out of 20 clubs) last season and after a revolving door of managers, Pulisic was barely getting any playing time so it was time to find a new home and a fresh start. 

    Christian, his parents and whoever smartly advised them were way ahead of the curve when he was growing up in Hershey, PA as they made the fantastic decision to move him (along with his father) to Germany when he was a teenager and where he could train full-time with the Borussia Dortmund academy team rather than dominate stateside and eventually what, go to college and star in MLS? After four seasons in the Bundesliga where he scored 13 goals, he earned a four-year deal with Chelsea where he ended up scoring 20 goals. It would be silly to label him a bust there as he was part of a Champions League title club in 2021 but based on injuries and signings of other talented guys that play similar positions to him, he found himself mostly on the bench last season when it all fell apart for the Blues. 

        The other teams that showed the most interest in Pulisic this time around were reportedly Juventus (Italy), Lyon (France) and Galatasaray (Turkey). He rightly rejected a move to Lyon which would have been a backwards move for his career and needless to say, Turkey is not where its at either at this point. You won't find many more powerhouse historical soccer clubs than AC Milan who have won the Champions League seven times (the 2nd most behind Real Madrid) and an amazing 19 Serie A titles with the most recent coming in 2022. Furthermore, they lost to their chief rival Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals this past spring so they are not far very away from gaining additional sacred hardware. Not for nothing, I would also say that getting away from the rough and tumble style in England should also sneaky help the more technically sound Pulisic who is listed at 5-foot-10 but only 150 pounds. 

    Adapting to a new country, city, language, club, teammates and league no doubt will pose some serious challenges for Christian at least in the beginning but thankfully he has some friendly faces on his new team so he should not feel alone by any means. English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek-his former Chelsea teammate-also recently signed with The Rossoneri. Additionally, USMNT defender Sergino Dest (on loan from Barcelona) is still there along with another former Chelsea teammate and French striker Olivier Giroud who played a key role in his recruitment. USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter notwithstanding, the team is unquestionably making incredible strides globally like never before. There are American players in all the top soccer leagues around the world. Still, we are not and we will never be known as a true soccer factory like Brazil, England, Spain, etc. That means that our homegrown prodigies like Pulisic are so precious and therefore we want to see him succeed at the highest level, especially as he enters what should be his prime. If he gets his club career back on track, it would be hard to quantify how much that will influence future American kids from getting into soccer and sticking with it rather than choosing other sports over it.

Somewhere Oliver Kahn is smiling (and looking like a psycho)

It's official, for the eighth time in their history Bayern Munich is headed to the Champions League Final on May 22 against either Inter Milan or Barcelona.

This one was never really in doubt and Olic was clearly the man of the match as he scored all three goals for Bayern.

If they can get Ribery back for the Final, Shimer correctly pointed out that they'll give Inter or Barce a great match.

Bayern has really taken their game to another level as the stakes have gotten higher. With Robben, Schweinsteiger, Olic, Hahm, Van Bommel et. al Bayern is a team full of stars that can match the all-star teams from Inter and Barce.

Lyon was a great story: the underdog from France that outlasted all the English clubs and had a storybook run. They were simply beaten by a better team and their magic ran out. They didn't have the horses to match Bayern and once Olic got his first goal today, you knew it might get away from them quickly.

Thanks for playing Cris, have fun with the French prostitutes

Lyon captain and defender Cris was just sent off in the 59th minute after getting a fishy yellow card on a tough tackle and then clapping for the referee.

With 10 men, Lyon just had their best chance as they put a good shot on goal but Bayern stopped it. Altintop just got eaten up on a rough challenge but he seems to be ok.

1-0 Bayern in the 63rd minute.

Schweinsteiger almost ends it

Lyon mishit their one chance so far in the second half while Schweinsteiger almost put a thunderstrike of a volley into the net in the 52nd minute.

A few moments later, Robben cut to his left foot at the top of the box and forced a diving save and corner from Lyon.

58th minute and Bayern is still up 1-0.

Gotta be feeling good if you're a Bayern fan

Bayern is up 1-0 at halftime and it could be an even bigger lead.

Still with a 2-0 aggregate lead and the fact that Lyon has been pretty lifeless, means that Bayern is in great position to get to the final.

Lyon has been undefeated in Champions League play at home so far but they hardly resemble that defensive minded team that capitalizes on its usually limited opportunites. They've been weak on the ball today and they'll need to become much more aggressive if they want to find three goals in the second half.

Needed that by Bastos

Lyon just had their best chance of the match so far as Michel Bastos had a perfect cross fall right to his foot but he hit it wide with his left foot.

It was in the 30th minute and Lyon desperately needs a goal before halftime. Plus, they can't give up another goal to Bayern or this one is over.

Olic puts Bayern one step closer to the final

Bayern just went ahead 1-0 in the 26th minute after some great counterattacking from Robben, Mueller and finally Olic.

Robben had the ball at the top of the box and found Mueller to the left of the box. He turned and under pressure delivered to his striker partner Olic. He fought off a defender and slotted it past Lyon's goalkeeper, who dove the wrong way.

1-0 Bayern today and 2-0 on aggregate. Lyon is on the brink of elimination as they'll need three goals to take it now.

Mueller just misses out on early chance

We're in the 19th minute in France and Bayern Munich and Lyon are knotted 0-0.

The best chance so far was by Bayern's Thomas Mueller in the third minute, who was wide open in front after a pass by Olic. He pushed it just wide for what would have been a huge away goal.

Bayern is up 1-0 after the first leg so Lyon needs a goal at some point.