Original subtitles

You're watching "Pulisic"

presented by Michelob Ultra.

Pulisic!

To say Milan is a football city

is an immense understatement.

When you're in Milan,

that's a city that talks about soccer 24/7.

Every day, every day, every day.

It's the most important thing

that they have.

They give everything.

It's not only a game here, it's religion.

If you're from Milan,

then your team is pretty much decided from birth.

You're either Inter or you're AC Milan

and there is no rivalry bigger than that one.

And there's this very real sense

that if you're a part of it in any way,

then you're a part of something

at the very highest level of sport.

I mean, the derby is massive.

You can't match it.

You have to play it

to understand how does that feel.

Not everyone can play there

because the pressure you got there,

you don't have it in other stadiums.

The Derby della Madonnina,

it gets its name from the statue of the Madonna

that sits on the top of the city's cathedral.

Vai, vai, tiro de Kaká! Goal!

The energy and the atmosphere in the stadium is crazy.

Nothing can compare.

Ronaldo, Meazza,

Zanetti, Pirlo,

Baresi, Maldini.

Since 1908, some of the biggest names in the history of sport

have battled one another

to win over the Madonnina's love.

People catch a plane, catch the buses,

catch trains, they want to come see this game.

But when you play there

and you got 85, 90,000 people

screaming your name,

it's the best thing in the world.

In the city of Milan,

to play in this game means everything.

It always has and it always will.

The energy is just above normal level.

The pressure here is way different.

Way, way different.

The passion that you can feel

in the San Siro is just-- just crazy.

You can't breathe.

It just takes the air out of you.

Wow. The atmosphere is incredible.

As a player, it's not only about playing good,

it's about how much are you willing to give to win.

So when you win,

you're the happiest person in the world.

And now, for the first time ever,

you have an American-born player

from Hershey, Pennsylvania of all places,

who is playing a starring role

in one of the most important rivalry games

in the world of football.

You can't overstate this.

This really is uncharted territory

for Americans in this sport.

And the world can't help but take notice.

Chris Pulisic, Chris Pulisic se le va...

Pulisic driving through...

- Pulisic... - Here's Pulisic!

He's got there!

There we go...

Dude, when I heard that Christian

was gonna do a documentary,

I thought, "He doesn't talk that much,

"he's not really that outgoing,"

Like, "What kind of content

are you gonna to get for this thing?"

Honestly, I was surprised.

He's the kind of person who's, uh,

I would say quiet.

What do you think?

Oh, man.

WESTON McKENNIE: I mean, his journey

is worth documenting,

but him as a person,

he doesn't really let people in so much.

I feel he still got so many things

he keep inside himself, you know,

and he doesn't want to show.

But, you know, once you get to know him,

you know, he's just one of the boys.

He wants to talk shit.

He wants to be competitive and--

and-- and just be able to like be himself.

The only thing I would say negative is a little bit quiet.

Ready?

I mean, I remember we were in US

we made him do some talk shows or whatever.

He doesn't like those things.

But you have to do it.

Christian...

That is part of your responsibility.

'cause he's known for being the Captain American, yeah.

but he doesn't like to be called Captain America.

- Thank you, I appreciate it. - Christian, Christian...

He doesn't maybe see himself like a superhero.

Like he's playing low profile and like--

feet on the ground,

but it's not the case.

You are Captain America.

I don't give a shit what you say, you are.

And you-- if that's more pressure on you, I don't care.

Ibra, Ibra!

Forza Milan!

It's his own fault, I'm sorry to say.

Thank you, Zlatan.

If you weren't so good,

we wouldn't ask nothing from you.

Welcome, how are you?

Nice to meet you, hello.

To a degree, it's been frustrating,

but the understanding has always been there from day one.

He doesn't want to be a celebrity.

It's about scoring goals,

setting goals, reaching goals.

- How are you? - What's up, man?

But people need to know who you are.

What makes his mind tick,

what does he want to achieve?

How does he react in situations

when a team goes through a bad run?

Yes and no. I mean--

The whole--

The whole tournament is kind of a disaster at times.

You know, people need to see this.

They-- they think the game is just

only between the white lines.

Um, however, Christian Pulisic is a reluctant celebrity.

But we're excited, we're-- with the new coach.

You will like.

This the way you want to play also.

- Yeah. - He wants to use you as a 10.

- Hm. - We have to...

To be in Christian shoes right now.

I mean, shit.

It's-- it's a lot of pressure,

a lot of expectations.

Christian, I'm Mary, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

I mean, when you're the main guy,

you're gonna get more media

and you're gonna have your name in the paper more often.

And then if you are the main guy

and you're playing in Europe, it's like,

if you're not doing your thing over there,

it's like, ah, American players ain't really doing nothing.

If this is the main guy,

then what does that say about everybody else?

He knows that the world

and that the U.S. is looking at him.

In Europe there're people are looking at him.

And so he just-- it's like added pressure that he doesn't need.

But heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Our next guests are global soccer stars

Christian Pulisic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Christian is the captain of the U.S. national team

and currently plays professionally

for the iconic Italian club AC Milan.

Christian, Zlatan, welcome.

Appreciate you guys joining us.

I think the Americans, they should be very proud

because I don't know if they understand

how big Christian is in Europe

and how important he is for Milan.

Is there a little bit of culture shock?

And also are the practices and the coaching--

is that in Italian?

- Yeah, that's a good question. - Yeah, it is.

It can be a bit of a culture shock.

Last season, I remember when I didn't speak a word of Italian.

You go into the first training sessions

and the coach is yelling things and you just have to--

There's a lot of body language.

I told him, listen, you need to speak more

because you're an example for the next generation in America.

- Whoa! - What's going--

And also, Milan is a global club

and the market in U.S. is very important for the club.

So he is our--

How do you say?

Face for U.S., so--

You have to do certain things.

Smile right here.

Let's hold the ball

kind of casual right there.

Settle in.

Be very quiet, please.

Any last questions?

If you're an athlete, you spend your whole life

focused on one thing,

on becoming one of the very best in the world

at what you do.

- Cheers, guys. - Nice, cheers.

But then what happens when the success comes

and the bigger you get and the more you achieve...

- Action! - ...all of a sudden

the expectations of you off the field,

they change, too. - Action.

Guys, it's Christian Pulisic here.

It's-- it's never ending.

Endorsement shoots, public appearances,

press conferences,

social media posts.

It's just-- It's relentless.

There is a lot that comes with it,

especially in this day and age of digital media.

One, mark.

- Roll camera! - Good.

- And set-- - There.

- Hi. - Hi!

And, you know, yeah, I'm sure there are players

like maybe Ronaldo or Beckham

or Zlatan who seem to live well with that attention.

But then you have athletes like Christian Pulisic

for whom that can look uncomfortable.

There are times that he comes off as extremely shy.

Okay. Yeah, that's good.

Yeah.

And then when you're the guy

who is carrying the flag

for an entire nation

in the biggest sport in the world,

like Christian is,

with a World Cup coming your way, by the way,

to your country in less than two years,

man, that's a heavy load.

Camera speed, sound speed.

Okay, you ready?

Just got nervous all of a sudden.

Why?

Um...

Unless I'm on the football pitch,

it's not really my thing,

just sitting and talking in front of cameras.

But, hey--

So why do this?

Um...

Christian!

This feels weird.

Why would I do this?

That's the big question.

I really feel like I owe it to everyone,

to all the American people,

to all the soccer fans.

Milan!

I think it's a really good time in my career.

It's a really important time for this sport in America.

I think it's gonna be interesting for people

to have a look into my life.

Take a sneak peek into my trailer, come.

Kind of the things I go through.

Wasn't there a first take? It was beautiful.

And if I can inspire one or two people

along the way then...

Pulisic!

I think I'm hopefully doing something right.

Hey, baby.

There's really two parts

of being a professional soccer player for me

that I look at it.

- Pulisic! - Pulisic!

It's the side of what I'm doing on the field,

and for me, everything else is private.

Turn that off.

What have you even been doing out here?

Brother, this is not it.

Not it at all.

That's how I've always looked at it,

and I think I'm a pretty private person.

Hey!

Even though we're getting this look into my life

a little bit with this,

which is very different for me.

Recently, he did something

that surprised me a lot.

He went on Jimmy Fallon,

and I was pretty nervous about it.

That's me, I guess.

To do a live talk show

was something that he hasn't really done much.

That's what I'm talking about.

How you doing, bud?

- I'm doing great. - Pleasure.

So I was a bit nervous,

and I think he was, too,

and I was worried about how it was gonna go.

I don't love doing that stuff.

Going on Fallon and doing those kind of things.

It's typically something

you might have to ask me more than once to...

to actually get a yes from me.

I was thinking about different--

a celebration you could do maybe if you score a goal.

Do you know the Three Amigos salute?

'Cause one, two, three.

But looking back on it,

it's something that I really appreciate,

and I'm glad I do.

You follow me, sir?

It was really, honestly, like seeing him

when he was young again, when we did a lot of things

for the first time, you know, it was that kind of feeling.

Christian Pulisic!

- Yeah, let's go. - Whoo!

But I think I've improved.

I think I've improved over time

and gotten used to it.

And, yeah, it's different, it's different.

And it's not-- it's not a bad thing

to step out of your comfort zone at times.

Do you have to entertain the European teammates?

They go like, "Hey, we're in your country,

Let's-- Where do we go?"

They always ask me that. It's funny.

- Yeah. - You know, we were in L.A.

last year, and they're like,

"Come on, like, Christian, it's your country.

You gotta show us around."

I'm like, I'm from Hershey, Pennsylvania.

I-- I--

Maybe he's shy, he doesn't like to speak.

But you get used to it

because that is part of your responsibility also.

- Yeah, come, quick. - All right.

So you have to bring him out from his comfort zone.

All right, right here. One, two, three.

He's a pro, come on. He knows what he's doing.

He's like, guys, come on.

He's got the pose and everything.

It always matters.

I mean, it gives American kids at home

a belief that they can go on and do it.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

Because the more you see people like you

that are from the place that you're from, doing things.

Yeah. Put down the window.

It gives you hope and belief that,

"Hey, man, maybe one day that could be me."

What's up? I'll sign this for you.

Yeah, appreciate you waiting.

Just pass the signature, man.

Thank you. Thank you.

He's all about the game,

but there's a number of games.

There's the one between the white lines

on the match day,

and then there's everything else,

and people need to see more of everything else.

Okay, let's take you straight to Madrid

because Christian Pulisic, Captain America--

Hey, my man Pulisic, baby!

When I first heard about this documentary,

not gonna lie, I was skeptical.

Obviously, we know that you're doing this CBS documentary.

How's the documentary filming been going?

Are you enjoying allowing people

into your private life like that?

We really don't know much about Christian Pulisic,

certainly not beyond what we get to see on the pitch.

Yeah, it's been-- it's been different for me.

I mean, I'm pretty sure that when you were doing

your research for this docuseries,

there's some stuff online,

but not an awful lot

for you to be able to go into a vault of media

and features to get background on Christian.

It doesn't exist because,

you know, he's done so few,

and that's been completely by design.

What makes this intriguing to me

is that he told us during our Champions League show

that he as a childhood friend from Hershey, Pennsylvania,

capturing the behind-the-scenes footage,

I do have a good friend as well working on the project.

And it's-- I think it's going really well.

I think that's huge.

Hey, just too many cameras?

And if as a player,

you can genuinely connect with your fans,

that makes you so much more human,

so much more relatable.

I'm just changing it to AC Milan now.

Yeah.

Entry, please.

Okay, I have to ask,

Who the hell is Dan Ioffreda?

Yeah, ah, that's-- that's the real question.

Hey there, guys.

Funny being on this side of the camera.

A lot of the behind-the-scenes footage

I'm sure that everyone will see is filmed by Dan.

He's catching Christian at times where--

behind the scenes and all,

where people don't really see Christian.

He's the man behind the camera.

He'll be in front of the camera, I'm sure a lot as well.

- The guy behind the camera. - Whoo!

If you put someone in front of Christian that

he doesn't know or is not comfortable with,

you're not gonna get the full thing.

Are you filming me?

"Are you filming me? How could you?"

Dan definitely is a good person to have around him

'cause it brings him out of his shell a little bit more.

It's definitely. It's fun.

Reunited, U.S.A. boys.

Is this another episode of "How I Met Your Mother"?

It still got me.

So we make jokes about, like,

him just having the camera on his face

when he gets out of bed.

And we have good, good laughs with him.

Definitely.

Camera shy? Hey, buddy.

- Dan, the man. - Mm!

It's been real. What a weekend.

Dan's been a great friend of Christian's,

you know, for a long time and--

obviously, when you're--

When you're playing at the professional level

that Christian's playing,

you know, there are tough--

a lot of tough days.

Tearing up Europe.

Oh, yeah, tearing up Europe.

You know, his best friend Dan,

um, from high school, you know,

friends since middle school, actually,

having him there now

I think is really, like, so important.

You know, you just--

You go home and there's--

To the house and someone's there.

He didn't want mom or dad there.

You know, he wanted-- You know, you want roommates.

You want friends.

Just to have someone there

if he's having a tough day.

Just someone to-- to talk to

and someone who knows him.

Oh, it's been instrumental.

We're off to San Siro for the first time.

Good camera work, man.

So kind of how I ended up here.

My driver here,

Mr. Daniel.

So in college at NYU,

I was studying acting.

And after I graduated college,

I did two years,

was working as an extra on "Gossip Girl."

That's the peak!

You'll find me walking around in the background there.

No, that was-- that was me.

I think I learned a lot doing that.

You know, I was on set every day.

But I think it also, you know,

taught me how to capture a moment.

She doesn't deserve this.

I signed with an agent in New York.

That was a big step for me.

I started going out for bigger things.

And then summer of 2023,

the strike happens.

♪ If we don't get it

♪ Shut it down!

I get a call from Christian,

and I'm telling him about this happening, right?

And he said, "You gotta come to Italy."

Welcome to my room.

You know, he's a good friend of mine,

and I just was moving to Italy,

and I didn't have anyone there with me.

Ah, the cameraman.

And I'm like, this is a perfect window

to come out here live in Europe for a little bit.

Va bene. Va bene.

Next thing I know, I get a call from Christian's agent,

Matthew, that this documentary may be happening.

This is football.

I was like, okay, this sounds exciting and...

That's on camera! I know.

Here I am now.

You don't want me to film?

Well, it's too late, isn't it?

You're kind of walking at me with a camera.

Oh, he gives me shit.

Yeah, plenty.

I'll clearly be doing something

and he's like, would you mind, like,

coming over here and let's film this,

like, right before you do this?

And I'm just like, "No."

You know, you can follow me around and,

you know, get what I'm doing,

but I'm not gonna go out of my way to get--

And we have arguments like that.

But then there's some things that I try to accept

and think, yeah, it would be a really cool shot.

El Capitan.

It's been pretty sweet

how this has kind of worked out

and how he's been able to help out with this project.

I feel grateful to have, you know,

a small hand in trying to tell his story.

So tell me,

are you excited for Valentine?

I prefer not to speak,

I get in trouble.

If you work in the soccer space in the United States,

then you will inevitably, at some point,

hear about "the next big thing."

Unfortunately, more times than not,

things like that just don't work out.

There are very few who are hyped up as being

"the future of the game"

who then actually live up to the billing.

You know, it's surreal. I mean, sometimes it's--

It's-- It's hard to believe.

I just keep looking at all the accomplishments

that Christian does, and I just--

I just can't really believe it,

because I just think back and it's like,

how did that happen?

Christian, you know, he never had a normal...

...life.

I just think of how hard he worked on his own

and the time that he put in

and the things that he gave up.

The sacrifices he made were...

they were just incredible to me.

He missed college life,

having freedom.

You know, not going to regular high school,

eating the right foods...

Random stretching?

The training, the recovery,

the grind, and the sacrifice.

I mean, from day one.

His life has been soccer, soccer...

More soccer.

Yeah!

Staying in a hotel,

getting on an airplane,

going to a game, resting.

You know, that's it.

I do remember when he would go outside,

and he's like, "Okay, I'm gonna juggle 500 times."

Um, okay, go ahead. Give it a try.

And then, you know, you're calling him in.

Cause he didn't do it, and he's mad at himself.

We try to help him understand

there's more than that.

Go get him. Go get him.

Go get him!

Go fast, Chris. Go fast.

We just hope that he continues, you know,

loving what he loves doing

and keeps going as far as he can.

'Cause, you know, if it ends--

ends tomorrow, I don't care.

I'd be as happy,

probably because he'd be closer to me,

and I get to see him more often.

I can do that.

A lot of people don't know

that my mom was a great player.

My dad played professionally in the U.S.

So that gives you a huge benefit as a kid.

Whoo!

His parents are very down-to-earth.

His family, very down-to-earth.

Good people.

Ooh!

You gotta celebrate.

I love the way that fame...

Buddy...

Are we celebrating?

Vitalis and cookies.

Has not changed the values of the Pulisic family.

I can't--

I can't speak highly enough about my family.

I mean, what they've done for me, um.

Starting with my sister and my brother.

I actually remember this one game

when we were like four years old

where Christian didn't score and I did.

We were on the same team

and he was so mad.

Both people who just don't care about soccer at all.

And I wouldn't want it any other way.

U.S.A., U.S.A.!

Pulisic!

My mom, the way she cares for me,

the way she doesn't care

if I have the best game of my life

or the worst game of my life.

Kelley, how are we doing in half?

Okay, okay.

I still feel good, I still feel good.

The text that I get after the game

and before the game is gonna be exactly the same.

And then my dad...

Sometimes he gets on my nerves, man.

I just burned myself.

Are you okay?

The guy's absolutely out of his mind.

I don't know if he does this to annoy me or to just to--

He knows it brings the best out of me,

but he knows how to get to me.

He knows how to motivate me.

Oh!

Oh, that's a good one. Got him!

He knows how to piss me off, for sure.

Come on, I know yardage. What are we, children?

- I need a yard! - Are we children?

Oh, my--

Um, and in the best way.

Christian, look how beautiful this is.

I mean, are you kidding me?

Yeah, it's just that the course is in doggy condition.

I'm a half glass-- half empty kind of guy.

Glass half.

But he's the reason I started playing the game.

Whoo!

He's the reason I got to a high level at a young age.

There's no doubt about it.

He pushed me every single day.

I wanted to be like him.

I wanted to be a professional,

because that's what he did.

I wanted to be my dad.

Christian Pulisic is not only the youngest player

on the U.S. national team,

he may just be the best American

to ever play the game.

Number 10, Christian Pulisic.

Christian was born, I think, in a manger

in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Pulisic, oh, lovely!

Hat-trick! What a night!

To say he burst onto the scene,

I just don't think that really does him justice.

Pulisic was an exceptional talent.

Is an exceptional talent. I think we all know this.

Pulisic continues running out of behind--

Christian Pulisic!

Speed and technique, this combination--

Is difficult to beat.

What can't this kid do?

♪ Oh, mama, I pray

♪ Oh, I pray that I'll stay strong ♪

My first memories of him is being in the camp,

being this young kid that was just fearless.

♪ I pray that I'll stay strong

The youngest American in the modern era

to score a goal, 17 years of age.

From the very beginning,

Christian wanted to be that player

who is elite at a world level.

Pulisic!

Buries it in the upper 90!

You know, every year you mature, every year you get stronger.

And that's how you identify a leader.

And I'm sure that he wants to be remembered

as the leader of a group of players,

they want to leave something behind.

You have certain players that shy away from pressure.

You have certain players that rise to the occasion.

And he's definitely proven

that he's the type of person

that rises to the occasion.

♪ Oh, mama I pray

What it means to be an American footballer

has changed so dramatically.

And Christian was really the archetype.

American footballers who can create,

who can score, who can star.

He has it all, there's no shadow of a doubt.

I mean, you don't make documentaries about everybody.

♪ That I stay strong

Okay, wait, which one is that?

Just one of them.

I want to inspire American kids

that can watch me and think,

"If this guy can do it, then why can't I?"

And I want to break down that barrier.

I want to create a legacy

that people can look and say,

"Man, this guy changed American soccer."

For the Americans that are watching us at home,

we've got a really special moment

because Christian Pulisic--

- Here we go. - He's gonna join us now.

Christian, so good to see you.

- How's it going? - How's it going?

This is for you guys, by the way.

- Wow, more presents! - Whose jersey?

It's only one shirt. So who is it for?

- Ugh-- - For me?

Christian's-- had success...

in Europe, you know,

but at the end of the day,

there's a bias, you know?

Americans are not good at soccer.

They're better at baseball and football.

Of course there's an anti-American bias in Europe.

Um, football is full of bias.

Christian, obviously,

for everybody watching back home,

it's a really crucial time

for the U.S. men's national team at the minute,

it looks like Pochettino is gonna be announced.

There's definitely a bias.

Yeah, it's-- for-- for sure it's out there.

And it's just something that-- that you get used to.

It pisses me off in a way

because I've seen it in front of my eyes.

It happens for sure, and you can feel it.

- Best of luck tonight. - Thank you very much.

To be an American,

you don't have to just be as good

as everybody else on your team.

I speak to agents, and agents will tell me

if there's three equal players.

And one's Argentinian, one's Italian

and one's American,

you pick the Argentinian or the Italian every single day.

You can't just be as good as to be American.

You have to be better.

That is the battle

that Christian Pulisic is--

is fighting every single day.

Theo Hernandez,

back in towards Rafa Leaão, and Pulisic!

His first of the season.

The American on the score shee.

The day he has an off game,

the knives are out and he's just an American,

you know, which means subpar.

If it comes down to me or them.

And it's a 50-50 for the call from the coach

who's going to play, or something like that.

I think it exists, I think--

Yeah, for sure.

I go through it most of the time

whenever I'm at Juventus

every year, somehow, I'm on the out

and I'm ready to be discarded.

And then, you know, it's like every summer,

it's like I'm a new player coming in,

having to, you know, make a name for myself.

And it's like--

When are you guys just gonna

finally just see that I can play on this level?

And I'm good enough for this level

and I've done it enough times.

Cuadrado...

Oh, brilliantly finished by Weston McKennie.

But that's why Americans are the way we are,

'cause we always have this chip on our shoulder

when we come to Europe.

That's gonna be very difficult, um--

Who knows in our lifetime if that will ever change.

I hope so.

I think it will eventually.

But unfortunately, you know--

It's-- it's a stigma.

Well, Americans, they've got no one really coming through.

They haven't really got no great players.

I can't think of a top American coach

I can name off top of my head.

I can't think of a top player.

I can't think of anything that come out of America

apart from the money.

No one's opinion is wrong.

Unless you're a U.S.A. fan.

If I was to ask anyone in this bar already

what the starting 11 was for U.S.A.,

no one would know.

They've been a bit better than I thought,

but they're still shit.

They're not very good.

Shite, mate. Horrible.

You name me one American player

that you can name.

Not to be rude, but who are they?

Who are they?

I think the Americans--

I think they think they're the best at everything.

Let's play soccer.

- I wanna play soccer. - I love soccer.

I played soccer since I was two-years old.

It's football, it's football.

- It's not soccer. - They've got it wrong.

I don't think they know about football.

They call it-- they still call it soccer, don't they?

Soccer. Soccer, so--

Do you agree that historically

it's been more difficult for American players

to break into Europe?

The American players actually tell you themselves

that they feel that there's an anti-American bias in Europe.

Do you agree?

No, I don't believe. I don't believe.

I mean, to say there's never been a bias

against American players, I think is bullshit.

Dempsey will try--

Wonderful! Absolutely brilliant!

It's always bothered me

when you get to go to Europe and then

it's kind of like people don't really show you respect.

Dempsey...

A sensational goal from Clint Dempsey!

But if you go over and you're from Brazil,

you're automatically--

There's a certain level of respect

that you're gonna get just right off the bat.

So that was kind of my mentality, was like,

"All right, I'm gonna show these people what's up,

I'm going to make these coaches play me."

Listen, the Americans in soccer,

it's like 30 years ago

when the Europeans used to go to the NBA,

they used to say, "Why are you guys coming here?"

You're just not good enough, right?

Now, you have a lot of European players in the NBA

that are phenomenal.

It's the same thing with Americans

that are coming to play in Europe.

It's about not because you're American,

that is because the level is different.

This is not an American, Europe, African or Asian thing.

Whoever is good, he will play.

Trust me on this one.

The first ones always get smashed.

I played against Lalas in Padova, right?

He had the guitar.

People were going, "What's he doing here?"

You know, "Stay in America."

"It's not your sport."

"Go play baseball."

"It's boring," you know what I mean?

That's because you don't know.

"What's he doing with football?"

He wasn't a bad player.

It's just that he was the first one to come.

If there is one person

who can put this narrative to rest forever,

it's Christian Pulisic.

I mean, man, you can see the respect

that he's earned in Italy

and throughout Europe as a whole.

And if he now continues on that same path,

we're not gonna be talking about this again.

My favorite player is Christian Pulisic.

Not even two years, he's become the King of Milan

and one of the icons of this team.

And I really like the way he plays.

Actually, we are all surprised.

Nobody expects such a champion coming from United States.

The mother-- was a surprise,

actually, because we didn't expect it.

And look who it is!

Puli, Puli! Puli, Puli!

It has been a great, great surprise for us.

Si, si!

Pulisic!

He's really smart

and he has a great vision of the game.

He can dribble whoever.

So many different goals,

so many different positions.

He's a dynamic, fast player.

You can't stop him.

He's very fast.

Pulisic!

Secondo gol in due partite!

Viva America!

Christian is making the difference here.

He's a big, big star for AC Milan.

Es Capitan America.

Puli, Puli!

- Puli, Puli, Puli... - Puli, Puli!

The main man from America

does it for Milan.

He has a very good control of the ball.

Control of the ball is this way,

not the way you did.

Pulisic! Oh, what a start!

Goal!

Who knows, maybe now in America

more people are following soccer because of him.

I grew up watching Milan my entire life.

Milan is a staple.

Milan is one of the biggest teams

in the entire world.

An Italian team,

and there's an American

that's playing for them.

Pulisic!

Christian's success in Milan

100% gives the men's national team

and just U.S. soccer in general,

gives them more clout, gives them more credibility.

It gives that little blue check.

For me, that's the key point.

is that he is a starter

and one of the best players for Milan.

Rafael Leaão and now Pulisic!

There are so many young players in this country

that aspire to get there,

especially when everything is so globalized by social media,

by broadcast, that you get to see an American

every weekend play in the marquee matchups.

Must be inspiring.

Americans like winners.

And I think when the rest of Americans

can look at Christian Pulisic

and see that they have created a winner

who is performing on a global stage

and matching up to other elites,

then that makes Americans want to know about soccer.

And that's a very cool thing for me.

Pulisic!

We say Rome wasn't built in one day.

But what Pulisic is doing with Milan is phenomenal.

He's incredible.

It's true facts.

It's not me exaggerating or something.

He's our Captain America also.

Not only for the U.S., also for-- for Milan.

I want to constantly set the standard.

I wanna be the best.

Come on, hold it proud.

No.

And not just American, I wanna be,

as delusional as it may sound,

I want to be the best player in the world.

Why not? This is what--

This is what pushes me.

I wanna be the best version of myself.

And I want--

Yeah, I want the U.S. to win a World Cup.

I want, you know,

I want to push the game in our country

that that bias is completely out the window.

Absolutely.

It's something that inspires me.

It's so interesting for athletes of team sports,

unlike in, say, boxing or tennis,

your success is often tied to the success of the team.

So in Christian's case, for example,

right now he is having the best season

of his professional career.

Let me see this.

Without question.

GDB!

- GDB. - GDB.

Game day, baby.

I usually go with... bitches.

Oh!

He's been on a tear.

- Pulisic! - Pulisic!

Pulisic!

At one point, scoring and or assisting

in seven straight games.

But the season hasn't started great for the club

and for their new manager Paulo Fonseca.

Pontus Almqvist,

his low cross... It's in!

Milan looking very shaky.

And just when things are getting really bad,

the fan base is restless,

the media is turning up the heat,

there are rumors of the team firing their manager.

And Paolo Fonseca's starting the Milan dugout

is not what he expected at all.

Just then, Milan's next scheduled game

is against crosstown rivals,

the defending Serie A champions, Inter Milan.

And for AC Milan, the Derby della Madonnina

could not come at a worse time.

That's crazy.

How are we feeling?

- Feeling good. - Feeling-- We're in.

Whoo!

A game filled with every kind of pressure.

The 240th playing of the Derby della Madonnina

sees Inter enter with the ultimate bragging rights.

That derby is, uh...

It's different than every other game here in Italy.

We didn't have the best start,

so it was an amazing opportunity for us

to kind of turn things around.

Especially after last season,

losing a couple times,

really tough games.

A lot of emotions going into this one.

I've played some games in Italy before,

but I've never been at a derby.

And the pressure of that game for AC Milan,

it was crazy, man.

And so we begin.

In a game like that,

anything can happen because you can prepare,

you can be in shape,

but when the game starts,

anything can happen.

But I kind of went after it right away.

Once I got that ball,

I just saw a gap.

I went for it.

Aah!

The American has scored

in the Derby della Madonnina,

quieting the pressure!

That, yeah, that's a moment that I'll never forget.

The American has taken this team

on his shoulders.

Wow.

So the game marched on in front of a stunned Inter crowd.

But then in the 27th minute,

Inter's Federico Dimarco made it interesting.

And it felt like, once again,

AC Milan was the underdog.

We're underway with the second 45 minutes

in the Derby della Madonnina.

The second half saw both teams miss chances.

Tammy Abraham!

Emerson Royal with the cross,

is a good one, too!

Milan had not overcome a draw to win the derby

this late in the game since 1999.

And then in the 88th minute,

Yeah!

It's Milan

who win the Derby della Madonnina!

Came in as significant underdos

with all kinds of pressure

on manager and players alike.

And it might just be the springboard

their season needed as the Milan derby finishes.

Huge, huge win!

Yes!

Yay.

After two years, Milan win the derby.

Six straight defeats

give way to victory for Paulo Fonseca

and the first time of asking

in the Derby della Madonnina.

I'm blessed to do this

and play this game at a high level.

I'm lucky to have the support of my family.

And of all the Milan fans.

It's, uh-- it's incredibly special.

Oh, my goodness.

What a goal.

It wasn't just-- It was decisive, you know?

Yeah.

Anyways, that was like the craziest game to be at.

Unbelievable.

Does anyone know how to get home from here?

♪ Che confusione, sarà perché ti amo ♪

♪ EÈ un'emozione che cresce piano piano ♪

♪ Stringimi forte e stammi piuù vicino ♪

♪ Se ci sto bene, sarà perché ti amo ♪

♪ Io canto al ritmo del dolce tuo respiro ♪

♪ EÈ primavera, sarà perché ti amo ♪

♪ Cade una stella, ma dimmi dove siamo ♪

♪ Che te ne frega, sarà perché ti amo ♪

♪ E vola, vola, si sa

♪ Sempre piuù in alto si va ♪

♪ E vola, vola con me

♪ Il mondo è matto perché ♪

♪ E, se l'amore non c'è ♪

♪ Basta una sola canzone

♪ Per far confusione fuori e dentro di te ♪

♪ E vola, vola, si va

♪ Sempre piuù in alto si va ♪

♪ E vola, vola con me

♪ Il mondo è matto perché ♪

♪ E, se l'amore non c'è ♪

♪ Basta una sola canzone

♪ Per far confusione fuori e dentro di te ♪

♪ Ma dopotutto che cosa c'è di strano? ♪

♪ EÈ una canzone, sarà perché ti amo ♪

♪ Se cade il mondo, allora ci spostiamo ♪

♪ Se cade il mondo, sarà perché ti amo ♪