Analysis: Pulisic finds new lease of life with Milan after Chelsea exit

Christian Pulisic has hit the bottom operating with Milan since arriving from Chelsea in the summertime, shortly proving himself after his disappointing finish to life in West London, Apollo Heyes writes.

The 25-year-old American winger ended a four-year spell with the Blues in July when he left to affix the Rossoneri in a deal price round €20m. He put pen to paper on a four-year contract with an choice for a fifth, seeking to relaunch his membership profession after issues went downhill with Chelsea.

As soon as a extremely rated teenager with Borussia Dortmund, a lot was anticipated of Pulisic when he moved to the Premier League in 2019, however he by no means managed to hit the heights anticipated with Chelsea.

His final season with the Blues was significantly disappointing; the winger noticed simply 812 minutes of motion within the league, scoring one objective and offering one help in that point. A knee damage after the World Cup saved him sidelined for over two months.

That event in Qatar completely symbolised the Pulisic dichotomy. Even throughout a lull in his membership profession, the American was in a position to be decisive for his nation, being a central determine within the American squad. On the World Cup, he scored a objective and supplied two assists.

When the 25-year-old joined Milan in the summertime, many followers expressed doubts, involved {that a} perceived luxurious participant was being signed partly as a advertising and marketing train by proprietor Gerry Cardinale, who has made no secret of making an attempt to extend the membership’s market share in the US.

It’s honest to say Pulisic has already dispelled these issues. He has scored 4 targets and supplied one help in his first eight Serie A video games, wanting way more just like the participant seen with the US than the one seen with Chelsea lately.

The graph above illustrates the place Pulisic has impressed throughout his first eight league video games with Milan, highlighting his robust kind in entrance of objective, good aerial means and necessary function within the membership’s build-up play.

Regardless of taking a low variety of photographs on common, 1.59 per 90 minutes, he has been significantly threatening in entrance of objective, producing 0.25 anticipated targets per 90. This signposts his decisive means within the penalty space, able to find the again of the web regardless of restricted alternatives.

The American winger performs a central function in Milan’s build-up play, being on the receiving finish of 9.05 progressive passes per 90, greater than the vast majority of his positional friends. His intelligent off-the-ball motion and well-timed runs come into play right here, serving to him drive the workforce ahead.

Evaluating Pulisic’s stats to his final Premier League season with Chelsea (in pink) present the strides he’s made since making the leap to the Lombardy capital. The obvious distinction is his means in entrance of objective.

The American winger is scoring way more and producing higher makes an attempt on objective for Milan, regardless of taking considerably much less photographs and touches within the attacking penalty space than he did in his final 12 months with Chelsea.

He’s additionally proving extra helpful defensively with the Rossoneri, profitable extra interceptions, making extra tackles and barely extra blocks than final season. His elevated aerial presence, probably as a result of physicality distinction between the leagues, additionally advantages Milan in each phases of the sport.

Lower than three months after his arrival at Milan, Pulisic is already flying excessive and now there’s nothing stopping him from turning into the star winger he as soon as appeared destined to be, including an thrilling spark to Stefano Pioli’s squad.

Phrases: @ApolloHeyes