Whether Christian Pulisic will join the US national team for the upcoming international break has been a hot topic lately. During today’s presser, Massimiliano Allegri was asked about it but gave a rather coy answer.
Pulisic has been on the sidelines since on the sidelines since the middle of October, when he sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with the US. Now, his return is getting closer and so is the next international break.
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Understandably so, Milan are worried that Pulisic might be called up for the national team again, seeing as he could return against Parma next weekend. Some reports have even suggested that the Rossoneri will try to block a departure for the American star.
Allegri’s update
When asked about the matter during his press conference today, in view of Milan-Roma tomorrow, Allegri provided a rather coy response. Instead of confirming the alleged block for Pulisic, he just said that they are in contact with all national teams.
“We will see if Pulisic will be fully available against Parma, to then go to the national team. We are in contact with all the national team coaches and we are letting them know about our players’ conditions,” he stated.
After the way Pulisic was mishandled last time out, with Pochettino fielding him in a friendly despite being in subpar condition, one can only hope that he will remain at Milanello. Especially since the derby against Inter is coming up after the break…
he won’t be called up. Especially if he only comes on as a sub for Parma.
The stupidity of minimizing the importance of these games for the USMNT. They have a new coach, lots of new players and need to figure out how they are going to play. This is a far from set team. Why is there not this level of complaint for Rabiot or Estupinan picking up an injury? ACM are looking like whining babies.
There have been complaints about Rabiot for picking injuries, especially since they initially thought he only had a concussion, when it turned out they didn’t scan him properly and he trained with an injured calf. But in his case, France is still playing to qualify, so in theory if they lose all their remaining games they will be out of the World Cup.
The short answer for Estupiñan is that he turned out to not be that necessary, he already missed a game and a half before the break due to his red card and we did fine.
But now tell me, what good did starting a not fully healthy Pulišić did for the USMNT ? National teams change a lot within monthes and we’re more than 6 monthes prior to the WC. It’s not like we’re in March or in May, and starting your star player where he isn’t fully fit against teams which always target him is stup!d and irresponsible.
He played with the ankle injury for ACM as he came into camp with it. Which is why he wasn’t used much in the first USMNT game. These games are important in terms of putting the team together. His hamstring injury is a separate issue. I guess you think the US, Mexico, and Canada should not have any of their top players not playing. Nonsense.
If a player is suffering from an issue, however minor it is, and the game is just a friendly 8 freaking monthes away from a tournament, you don’t start him, simple as that. Imagine Pulišić tore an ACL or was fractured by an Aussie player, would you have been happy that Pocchetino started him ?
I mean what’s the next excuse ? That friendlies in 2027 or 2028 are important to prepare the 2030 World Cup ? Football players are already playing too many games each season, traveling too much and rest time is getting shorter and short while the whole situation is not improving.
PSG and Real Madrid are already taking actions to make sure that their players don’t play useless games, it’s about time we do the same.
Three dumb things about Puli and his knock.
1) Playing in Denver in October at night.
2) Pocchetino starting Puli that night.
3) Australian defending so physically in a friendly.
Estupiñan? Unlucky
Rabiot? France screwed up.