'You are captain America' — Zlatan challenges ex-Chelsea star to accept responsibility

'You are captain America' — Zlatan challenges ex-Chelsea star to accept responsibility

Faruq Ibrahim 21:33 - 11.12.2024

AC Milan director Zlatan Ibrahimovic has laid down the gauntlet to USMNT star Christian Pulisic.

Former Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has challenged Christian Pulisic to accept the challenge of being the leading face in American football, rather than shy away from the pressure that comes with it. 

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the latest Football News from Pulse Sports.

What Zlatan said 

As Pulse Sports reported, Pulisic recently expressed how immense pressure caused him to flop in the Premier League, specifically at Chelsea

While he is currently thriving at AC Milan, he still shows some timidness, reflected in his aversion to the moniker “Captain America,” a clever nickname from the Marvel franchise bestowed upon Pulisic by fans as the captain and star player of the USMNT. 

Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring for AC Milan on September 27, 2024 (Credit: Imago)

Zlatan, who is currently the director of AC Milan, has advised Pulisic to accept the nickname and rise up to the challenge as warranted. The former Ajax striker believes the 26-year-old’s talent level makes him capable of taking the challenge.

"He is known for being 'Captain America,' but he doesn’t like to be 'Captain America,'” Zlatan told the Athletic. “He doesn’t maybe see himself like a superhero.

"He is playing low profile and with his feet on the ground. But you are 'Captain America', I don’t give a sh*t what you say; you are. If that is more pressure on you, I don’t care. It is his own fault—if you weren’t so good, we wouldn’t ask anything from you."