The United States team defeated Senegal 3-2 in a friendly match, with Pulisic scoring his first goal of 2026. He was interviewed after the match.
Pulisic told ESPN: "I've always been confident. In fact, I've been playing very well for the past few months, but it seems like everyone only cares about goals. So hopefully everyone will stop talking about it now (the goal drought). I feel good, of course, this is just a friendly match. As for the future, we still have some important games to play, and I need to be ready."
However, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Pulisic's reaction after scoring the goal was not one of joy that a player should have after ending a long goal drought, but rather anger and depression.
What he said after the match, "I've been playing well for the past few months, but it seems like everyone only cares about goals, and I hope everyone stops mentioning it," was actually too facile a self-exoneration—a five-month goal drought is an objective fact, but he was unwilling to confront his slump, instead blaming external attention and criticism on "only caring about goals."
The newspaper pointed out that Pulisic seems accustomed to venting outwardly when things are not going well, as if the problems are with the fans and the media, rather than himself or the tactical system.
At the same time, Pulisic's status in the US team is also declining: Pochettino has made it clear that Ream will remain captain in the World Cup, and the halo of the former "Captain America" is gone. And Pochettino himself is one of the candidates for the new Milan coach, which adds a subtle variable to Pulisic's future.
Previously at Milan, although Allegri spoke highly of him, the tactical system he actually built did not allow him to perform at his best, and he himself struggled, which even Allegri openly admitted. Coincidentally, after returning to the national team and switching to left winger, Pulisic immediately contributed a goal and an assist, which highlights that his role and position arrangement at Milan may not be ideal.
In addition, his contract negotiations have completely stalled due to the current chaos at the club, and with his contract expiring in 2027, there will be no progress at least until the World Cup.