In the interview, AC Milan player Pulisic shared his hobbies after training, his Croatian heritage, and his longing for his grandfather.

What is your relaxing time in Milan like? What do you do after training?

"After I get home, I often play chess online."

Is it with someone you know or a random opponent?

"With random people online. Occasionally I play with some friends, but most of the time it's like being on the same line."

Do they know who they are playing chess with?

"No, no, no. I actually set up like a Croatian flag and a fake name so people don't really know it's me. It was my grandfather who taught me how to play chess."

About your tattoos.

"So I got a tattoo of a chess piece here, and his name is Matei, which is my middle name too. And it's like a pun about 'checkmate,' which I thought was cool. So I still play it a lot. That's important to me."

Is that your Croatian side of things?

"Yes. Yes."

You mentioned Modric before. I'm curious if that's part of how you two bonded. How connected do you feel to your Croatian roots?

"Yeah. I mean, you know, it's always been important in my family. Well, my grandfather was a huge fan of the Croatian national team. He loved Modric and now to be able to play with him, it's like a perfect circle, very cool. Um, but I I feel connected, but at the same time, I grew up in America. I never learned the language. My parents didn't speak that much, but I'm also proud of that pedigree."

Did you give him a Modric jersey?

"My grandfather has passed away now. But, no, it doesn't matter. I can feel him in the sky watching, you know, when Modric gives me the assist in training, I think of him sometimes and I think, if he knows this is happening, he is watching in the sky, it is a cool feeling, that's it."