Pulisic scores an OLIMPICO as AC Milan star sends Chelsea a message

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 23 Oct 2024 10:32 BST
• 4 min read

Is there anything Christian Pulisic can’t do right now?

On Tuesday evening, the American star joined a very elite club of footballers to score an Olimpico - a goal directly from a corner.

The 26-year-old managed the feat in AC Milan’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League group phase, breaking the deadlock by curling the ball straight in past Simon Mignolet from the left corner flag.

— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) October 22, 2024

READ MORE: Chelsea top scorers 2024/25

That goal took his tally to a highly impressive seven goals and three assists in all competitions this season, from 11 matches.

Despite the presence of superstars such as Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan, there is no doubt that since joining Milan from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, Pulisic has been Milan’s most effective, consistent and reliable player.

While the aforementioned trio can reach higher highs than Pulisic based on ability and potential, they lack the consistency of the American. The USMNT star has also shown himself to be far more of a team player, certainly compared to Leao and Theo.

Some would even argue that Pulisic has been the most consistent and effective attacking performer in all of Serie A since arriving.

Indeed, since the beginning of 2024, Pulisic has more goal contributions (15 goals, nine assists) in all competitions than any other Serie A player.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a very productive first season at Milan last term.

READ MORE: Champions League top scorers 2024/25

He finished the season with 12 Serie A goals - all of them from open play (with 15 goals in all competitions).

The only wide attacker or attacking midfielder in Serie A to score more goals was Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson with 14 - and four of those were penalties.

Pulisic had the third most assists in Serie A last season, with eight assists. He had 10 assists in all competitions.

The only thing missing from Pulisic last term was he didn’t score or assist enough goals in the big games and against the biggest teams.

That has all changed this term as Pulisic has already found the net in the Milan Derby, against Liverpool and in a massive Champions League must-win game against Club Brugge.

Only two players have more goals in Serie A this season, and only two players have more assists.

Pulisic is now Milan’s leader and main man.

Chelsea will be watching on and surely regretting their decision to sell Pulisic last year for such a paltry sum of €22 million.

Pulisic at Chelsea

The winger joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 for €64m.

He had a successful first season at Stamford Bridge, netting 11 goals in all competitions out of 34 games.

The midfielder even broke the record for the youngest Chelsea player to score a hat-trick, scoring three goals against Burnley in his debut year. But then the American’s form started to drop off - netting just a single goal in his final season for the club.

Chelsea had a mass exodus during the 2023 transfer window, with some 23 players either joining another club on a transfer or leaving after their contract ended.