Christian Pulisic was sidelined in October due to a hamstring injury sustained during a friendly match against Australia while representing the United States national team. This injury has left AC Milan feeling frustrated, as club officials believe that USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino took an unnecessary risk by featuring Pulisic despite him priorly nursing a minor ankle injury. Milan officials are reportedly dissatisfied with how the situation was managed, especially considering Pulisic’s significance to their attacking framework. His absence coincided with a challenging period for the Rossoneri, who were already coping with the injury of key midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The club views Pulisic’s return as a substantial enhancement to their offensive capabilities, recognizing his vital contribution to creativity and goal-scoring. To mitigate further complications, AC Milan has reached an agreement with both the USMNT and the French national team to exclude Pulisic and Rabiot from upcoming international call-ups. In a pre-match press conference, manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that Pulisic has successfully completed his rehabilitation and returned to full training with the team. Allegri noted, “He has trained twice with the team; he is physically fit and in good shape, as he possesses a physique that doesn’t require extensive work.” However, Allegri refrained from specifying how many minutes Pulisic would be able to play in the upcoming match against Parma, stating, “I don’t know how many minutes he’s got.” Pulisic joined Milan from Chelsea in 2023, shortly after winning the Champions League with the London club. Since his arrival, he has emerged as one of Milan’s most pivotal players, netting 38 goals in 108 appearances across all competitions. His versatility, creativity, and tactical intelligence have made him an integral component of Allegri’s system this season. Typically positioned as a second striker behind Santiago Gimenez, Pulisic plays a critical role in connecting the midfield to the attack. His movement across the lines facilitates quick transitions for Milan, enabling them to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defense. His exceptional dribbling skill allows him to outmaneuver defenders, exemplified by a remarkable run against a Napoli defender that led to an assist for Alexis Saelemaekers earlier this season. Beyond his technical prowess, Pulisic exhibits remarkable vision, consistently identifying teammates in advantageous positions and crafting scoring opportunities with precise passes. His swift decision-making in tight spaces has been instrumental in dismantling organized defenses. Furthermore, his industriousness off the ball has been essential to Milan’s overall structure, as he frequently tracks back to support both the midfield and full-backs, ensuring balance during defensive transitions. Pulisic’s blend of creativity, discipline, and tactical awareness has rendered him indispensable under Allegri, serving as a key link between midfield and attack while infusing intelligence and energy into Milan’s gameplay. Milan legend and former midfielder Marcel Desailly believes that if Pulisic can maintain his fitness, he possesses the potential to evolve into a significant leader at the club. Desailly remarked, “I was very pleased to see him join Milan. Last year, he had a decent season. Unfortunately, injuries have hindered his consistency, which we expect from a leader in offensive dynamics. However, he possesses extraordinary talent, and he is the type of player who is expected to spearhead that offensive animation.” Milan is set to travel to the Enzo Tardini on Saturday to face Parma, with the objective of securing all three points and narrowing the gap on league leaders Napoli.
