Christian Pulisic: “We’re going to fight for everything at the end I want to lift another trophy at the end of the season. So we have a great opportunity to do that and I’m going to give everything I have.”

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

After experiencing the highest of highs of European club soccer last weekend, Christian Pulisic hopes to feel a Rocky Mountain High this Sunday.

The first U.S. men’s national team player to have won the UEFA Champions League didn’t sound like someone who plans to be resting on his laurels when the USA competes in the Concacaf Nations League Final Four.

Only five days after capturing one trophy, Pulisic and his USMNT teammates meet Honduras in Denver, Colo. Thursday night. The winner will face the victor of the Mexico-Costa Rica encounter in Sunday’s final. The losing sides will play in the third-place match.

“I’m ready to go,” Pulisic said.

If he’s exhausted from Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, the 22-year-old midfielder-forward wasn’t saying during a Zoom press conference Wednesday night.

“Going from one competition to the next is what I’ve been doing all season,” he said. “It’s constantly having to refocus and get ready for the next game and quick turnarounds. It’s something that I’m used to. This is a big one but there’s not much really a switch I need to flip. I was playing at the highest level and I’m feeling ready and excited for these games coming up as well.

“I’m always ready to play an I always want to be on the field so I’m here ready to go. Definitely.”

While he basked in the accomplishment this past weekend, the Champions League game and celebrations are in the past.

“I think it’s a big accomplishment,” he said. “Obviously I’m really happy with what we accomplished at a club level this season. Now it’s time to move on, big game against Honduras. We’re going to fight for everything at the end I want to lift another trophy at the end of the season. So we have a great opportunity to do that and I’m going to give everything I have.”

Pulisic didn’t say anything that would wind up on the Honduras locker room wall or on Central American social media.

“It’s never an easy opponent,” he said. “They’re going to fight. We’re playing for this Nation’s League title. So, I don’t know too much obviously we were familiar with some of their players and stuff. But it’s going be a good game More importantly, we have to focus on ourselves. I think if we come out and show a strong performance, I think that we have a good chance.”

For all you fashionistas, here is the inside story on the Hershey, Pa. native wearing a U.S. Soccer hoodie during victory celebrations last Saturday.

“Probably have to ask my dad that question,” he said of Mark Pulisic, a Centereach, N.Y. native. “It was it was his hoodie. I wasn’t thinking at all [laughs]. But once he brought it down, he’s like, ‘Oh you should put this on.’ I was like, ‘That’s a great idea.’ Show what we’re representing out there, being an American playing on the national team and then winning the Champions League. I think it’s just a cool message.”

Afterwards, Pulisic celebrated with his teammates, family and friends.

“It’s been an incredible of couple days, definitely, obviously getting to celebrate and having some family and friends there and being with my teammates, was really an incredible achievement,” he said. “So really proud. Now it’s right back to work, but I’m happy I’m excited to have a chance to go after this trophy with the national team. I’m ready to go.”

Then came a long journey, not just across the Atlantic Ocean, but almost across the USA to the Mile High City.

Pulisic broke the trip up into parts, although catching a few extra winks was on the top of his priority list.

“I would say on that on this flight in particular, I was very I was drained,” he said. “I needed to catch up on sleep after all the celebrations and enjoying the last couple days. But normally I just spend it how anyone else would download some shows maybe, try to get some sleep, listen to some music, maybe read a little bit.”

After all, he’s got two games remaining in the season to enjoy and to try to win his second trophy within nine days.

He’s ready to go.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.