Christian Pulisic has been fantastic for AC Milan since joining, but this is now having a negative effect on things, a report has claimed.
Having a player like Pulisic who has been consistently superb is brilliant, that is until he cannot play and goals disappear. When Rafael Leao’s goals slowed, Milan were left needing someone to pick up the pieces, and the American has done that.
However, the shoe is now on the other foot. When Pulisic isn’t there, who is?
As Milan News writes, the Rossoneri have an ‘addiction’ to the attacker, and without him, there is a noticeable drop-off. Against Juventus, there was a gap in the team, a piece of the puzzle not there, and this showed.
When he came onto the pitch, there was an immediate change, but he could not change the game single-handedly.
In 16 games, he has contributed 12 of the Diavolo’s 22 goals, and this number is more than halved when looking at the goalscoring record of the strikers (Morata, three and Abraham, two). For this, more must be done by the strikers, as the reliance placed on Pulisic’s shoulders is not sustainable.
Morata and Abraham must do more, and Leao can be added to this mix as well. More is needed from the frontline because Pulisic cannot be the only focal point of a successful team.
It’s not as though he hogs the action, either. Pulisic is an unselfish player and the offense inevitably opens up when he is in.
As great as he is, he needs a reset himself. The last few games he has taken shots with his head down and blocking defenders clearly present. He should challenge with the dribble a bit more and have more awareness when he chooses to take a shot. At times one wishes he would take more risks. At times one wishes he would show more caution in shot selection. Football’s attraction is that it’s a game that requires wise decision-making, and his is usually some of the best. He will adjust.
But the article is right that the team needs to be able to move the ball without him.
Other players need to step up, as simple as that. There can’t be an over reliance on either Leão or Pulisic. Maybe the attacking quality isn’t really there besides those two.
The offense is not the problem. The problem is the defense and the numerous goals they leak.
Just look at a game like Milan 3-3 Cagliari. When your offense scores 3 goals, you’re supposed to win the game. But then the defense goes and concedes 3 easy goals.
And it doesn’t help that the coach employed a very conservative and defensive lineup when an opponent like Juve had an injury-decimated offense. That was the game in which we should have dared more (also in the Leverkusen game).
It seems like somehow Fonseca rarely makes good decisions. Sometimes he does like against Real and Inter, but most of the time the team struggles a lot under his guidance.
I think the problem is more the coach than the players.
we need a 9 better than what we have. pretty simple.
There’s no production (goals) at 9
kad kupuješ škart ( jović abraham morata ) onda i imaš škart na raspolaganju !! nije mi jasno što tu nerazumiju gospoda iz uprave __-_-
Pulisic has become to Fonseca and this Milan, as what Leao was to Pioli and his Milan.
As I watch these games I come away with the impression that there is some selfishness directed at Pulisic. You see him move into space and the ball is routinely played sideways and around rather then a daring pass forward. Either his teammates don’t see him or something else.