Pulisic’s Return Boosts Milan Ahead of Parma Clash

Christian Pulisic was sidelined in October due to a hamstring injury sustained during a friendly against Australia while representing the United States national team. This injury has left AC Milan frustrated, as they believe that USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino took an unnecessary risk by fielding Pulisic despite him having a minor ankle issue prior to the match.

Milan officials have expressed dissatisfaction with how the situation was managed, considering Pulisic’s significance to their attacking strategy. His absence has been particularly challenging for the Rossoneri, who are already contending with the injury of key midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The club views Pulisic’s return as a major enhancement to their offensive capabilities, given his crucial role in creativity and goal contributions.

To prevent further complications, Milan has reached an agreement with both the USMNT and the France national team to exclude Pulisic and Rabiot from upcoming international call-ups.

In a recent pre-match press conference, manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that Pulisic has completed his rehabilitation and has returned to full training with the team. Allegri stated, “He has trained twice with the team; he is physically fit and already in good shape because he has a physique that doesn’t need a lot of work.”

However, Allegri did not disclose how many minutes Pulisic will be able to play in Milan’s upcoming match against Parma, noting, “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 quickly become one of Milan’s most influential players, netting 38 goals in 108 appearances across all competitions. His versatility, creativity, and intelligence on the ball have made him a pivotal part of Allegri’s system this season.

Typically deployed as a second striker behind Santiago Gimenez, Pulisic plays a vital role in connecting the midfield with the attack. His movement between the lines facilitates quick transitions and enables Milan to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defense. His exceptional dribbling ability allows him to navigate past defenders, as demonstrated in a stunning run past a Napoli defender, which resulted in an assist for Alexis Saelemaekers earlier this season.

Beyond his technical skills, Pulisic has exhibited remarkable vision, consistently identifying teammates in advantageous positions and creating scoring opportunities through precise passing. His quick decision-making in tight situations has frequently dismantled organized defenses. Furthermore, his work ethic off the ball has been essential to Milan’s overall structure, as he often tracks back to support the midfield and full-backs, helping the team maintain balance during defensive transitions. Pulisic’s combination of creativity, discipline, and tactical awareness has made him an indispensable asset under Allegri, serving as a key link between midfield and attack while infusing both intelligence and energy into Milan’s play.

Milan legend and former midfielder Marcel Desailly believes that if Pulisic can remain injury-free, he possesses the potential to become a great leader at the club. Desailly remarked, “I was very happy to see him coming to Milan. Last year, he had a decent season both on and off the field. Unfortunately, he gets injured and lacks the consistency we expect from a leader in terms of offensive dynamics for the team. However, he has an amazing talent and is the kind of player you anticipate leading that offensive animation.”

Milan is set to travel to the Enzo Tardini on Saturday to face Parma, aiming to secure all three points and close the gap on league leaders Napoli.