The U.S. men's national team winger spoke to reporters about numerous topics as he faces what could be a career-defining transfer season.
It's going to be a career-defining summer for Christian Pulisic. As the transfer rumors continue to swirl, linking him to seemingly every top country in European soccer, the American star has arrived at national team camp, a place that has long been one where he can escape whatever disfunction he's experiencing at club level.
For years, the U.S. men's national team has been Pulisic's home away from home, his chance to reset, refocus and, most importantly sometimes, play a big role on the field and off of it for his country.
However, as he joins the U.S. for the upcoming Nations League semifinal against Mexico, there's really no escaping the shadow of this summer. His Chelsea future is uncertain, to put it lightly, and everyone from the U.S. to England is wondering and projecting where he'll play his club soccer next season. His decision, whatever it may be, will have lasting ramifications as the 24 year old gears up to be the face of the USMNT once again for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Speaking to media on Monday, Pulisic didn't provide any answers, and it's likely because he doesn't have them – at least not yet. With a difficult Chelsea season now in the rearview mirror, Pulisic is now fully focused on the USMNT.
With the national team, Pulisic will have a chance to lift a trophy in the coming weeks to begin the summer on a high. It comes, once again, as a welcome change for Pulisic, who admitted that things haven't quite gone to plan at Chelsea as a potential move looks more and more likely.
Getty Images'Right now, I'm a Chelsea player'
The rumors have swirled dating back to January, when an untimely injury ended any hopes of a move away from Stamford Bridge. But, with Mauricio Pochettino incoming and with a seemingly endless squad of players all fighting for playing time, it seems the time may be now for Pulisic to find a new home.
He's been linked with some massive clubs, with Manchester United, Newcastle, AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli and Atletico Madrid reportedly among his suitors. Reports say Pulisic will even be willing to take a pay cut to facilitate a move to a club that will be more willing to give him the playing time he needs.
For now, though, Pulisic remains a Chelsea player, and he says he isn't looking too far ahead of that at the moment.
"It's been an interesting journey at club level for me," he said. "I thought it was a great couple of years, and the last couple of years just haven't gone at all how I planned it to be. Right now, my focus is obviously here with the national team. And like I've said before, I'm just excited to just to get back playing and just enjoy myself and do what I love to do out on the field.
"From there, this summer, we are obviously going see what happens. It's obviously very early. As of right now, I'm a Chelsea player and I'm planning to go back but a lot of things can happen and a lot of things can change."
AdvertisementGettyApproaching the summer
Even if he considers himself a Chelsea player, Pulisic is aware of the speculation. Even if he won't talk about what's happening behind the scenes he does know that, at least externally, there is a lot of doubt about his Chelsea future.
Pulisic was asked if the last Chelsea game of the season could just be the last Chelsea game of his career, and he says he'll deal with that thought process when the time comes.
"It's a tough one," he said. "Like I said, right now, it's really in the back of my head. I'm not even thinking about it per se right now, like 'Where do I want to be next season?' or whatever. Right now, I'm focused on the national team. I want to be here, I want to win games. That's my sole focus right now.
"When the time comes, obviously, I need to also rest after this game a bit, get away from the game a bit and enjoy my breaks and my family, all those kinds of things, and then, once it's time to make decisions and then see what options I have, then I'll deal with it then."
Despite all of the rumblings about his future, though, Pulisic says that he's in a fairly good place. The USMNT camp presents a chance to spend time with some friends, including Matt Turner, who chimed in that he was excited to spend time with the winger.
He's also made sure to stay off of the internet for some time, avoiding as much external chatter as he can about his own career.
"I don't keep any social media on my phone anymore, so I probably don't see as much as you guys think I do," he says. "I don't know what's going on, like people will text me sometimes like 'You're going here?' and I'll be like, 'I don't even know that!', so they know more than me a lot of the times.
"But I'm a good, man. My family is healthy. I'm blessed. I'm having a really nice and I'm happy to be here with the boys, with Matty. I'm doing great."
(C)Getty Images'It's been tough to enjoy the game'
While Pulisic didn't have many answers about the future, he was willing to admit he hasn't been very happy with the immediate past.
It was a tough season for everyone at Chelsea, with the club going through three managers en route to a 12th-place finish. It was particularly tough for Pulisic, though, who, due to injuries and managerial decisions, played just over 800 Premier League minutes this season.
This campaign served as just the latest difficult moment at Stamford Bridge for Pulisic, whose career at Chelsea has had peaks and troughs, to say the least. A return to the national team, once again, gives him a chance to escape that up-and-down cycle for a little while.
"It's been a really tough season, for me personally and for our team, of course, at a club level," Pulisic said. "So for me, it's just about coming in here and having a fresh start and being able to be a part of a team that, hopefully, can come out and win some games. I'm really excited to be here and just to get some minutes on the field and just get back to being that confident player that I that I know I can be and just find my footing again and just enjoying the game because it feels like it's been tough to do that."
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Getty ImagesUSMNT's coaching shakeup
The USMNT Pulisic returns to is a new-look one. Everyone knew that Anthony Hudson's tenure would come to an end sooner or later, but even Pulisic was stunned to see it end so soon.
"It's all come as a bit of a surprise for us, some of the changes, just as much as it is for you," he said, "so we're dealing with it as best we can."
Hudson departed the U.S. ahead of a busy summer as he decided to take a new opportunity in the Middle East. As a result, the baton will pass to B. J. Callaghan to lead the team into the Nations League and Gold Cup before a permanent hire is made.
Callaghan has been an assistant with the U.S. since 2019, and Pulisic has been familiar with him since his youth days in Pennsylvania. In theory, little should change for the U.S. until a new coach is hired.
"We've spoken and given our input as much as we can," he said of the coaching search. "It's not our job as players to appoint a manager or whatever the deal is. We're just here to come out and perform as best we can, no matter who the coaches are. We're excited to be here and represent the crest. That's how we look at it."
Pulisic has previously said that he believes Gregg Berhalter should remain a candidate to stay on and, when asked if he still believes that the now-ex-USMNT boss could be brought back, the American winger said he does.
"I think he should be considered," he said. "I think he did a great job with the team. He's brought us a long way. A lot of guys in the team especially would agree with that."