Christian Pulisic eyes strong second season with AC Milan, calls USMNT's Copa America exit 'disappointing'

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- Christian Pulisic said he is focused on building upon a strong first season with AC Milan after taking a few weeks off to reflect on the United States men's national team's "disappointing" group stage exit from the Copa America.

"For us, of course, it was disappointing to exit as early as we did," the USMNT captain told members of the media at a press conference on Friday. "I've had a lot of time to think about it. Obviously, for me, it was important to also take the time off and take some rest because it was a long season and now my focus is here, 100%, to be honest. Obviously, some things will change with the national team and a new coach on the way or whatever but I'll worry about that in the international windows. I'm excited to be here [with Milan]. I got some good rest and I'm really just ready to get started here."

The U.S. took part in an expanded edition of the South American championship in the hopes of making a strong statement before hosting the World Cup in two years' time, but instead lost two of their three group stage Games and crashed out of the tournament. The earlier-than-anticipated exit led U.S. Soccer to fire head coach Gregg Berhalter earlier this month, who Pulisic had publicly backed before he was re-hired a year ago.

Pulisic was one of the lone standout performers for the USMNT during the Copa America, notching one goal and one assist in three Games, and continues to serve as a bright spot despite the low point for the team. The captain entered the summer tournament off of a career-best club season with Milan, his first after departing Chelsea on a free last summer. He scored 16 goals and registered 11 assists last season, playing a major role as Milan finished second in Serie A and reached the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals.

As the attacker integrates himself further into Milan's core group of players, he is targeting collective goals rather than just personal ones for the season ahead.

"It's more so team goals of what we want to win, what we want to reach," he said. "Our goal is to win trophies. We want to take the next step. We had some good moments in the last season and I had some good moments personally but continuing to improve on that, helping the team in all ways -- goals, assists, but also just the way that I work defensively and learning a lot more of the season and hoping to improve off of a good start, personally, but there's many more things that I want to achieve."

The fact that Milan were within touching distance of trophies last season but failed to collect one seems to be a guiding force for the team's vision for the year ahead. Their big signing of the summer so far is Alvaro Morata, who scored 21 goals for Atletico Madrid last season and also captained the Spain team that won the Euros this month. Morata will not be with Milan during the preseason tour of the U.S., which kicks off on Saturday against Manchester City at Yankee Stadium, as he enjoys his post-Euros break but big things are expected from him.

Zlatan Ibrahomivc, a club legend who became a special advisor in December as part of his deal with Milan owners RedBird Capital Partners, was among those who spoke to Morata before the Spain player made the move.

"When you talk to these players, you need to make sure that they're entering a comfort zone because as soon as they come into a comfort zone, it's easier for them," Ibrahimovic said of his conversations with Morata. "For Morata, I said the perfect place to come. … The No. 9 spot, position is the best place that we have available today and that was, let's say, with [Luka] Jovic, the players that we needed and the surrounding [players] he will have around him like Christian, Rafael Leao, [Noah] Okafor, [Samuel] Chukwuese, [Ruben] Loftus [Cheek] behind you, he understood what he will have."

Ibrahimovic spoke about his transition from the field to the front office shortly after retiring from playing in June 2023, embodying the ambition Milan are projecting at this early phase of the season.

"Obviously, I work from a different angle now but at the same time, I try to be myself, or else I'm not pushing for what I believe in and what my ambition is and what I stand for," he said. "I'm entering in a different zone where I have a lot to learn and at the same time, a lot to give but I have good, amazing colleagues along me. That makes it easier and we speak basically the same language. We believe in the same things. We follow the strategy we have and we are young, which I find good, positive because we're hungry, we have a great will to make things good, but in a different way. … If you work for a club like Milan, the objectives are very high and the pressure is very high. That's why we are a great club and we want to continue."