In Turin on Sunday, AC Milan missed their seventh penalty from the last 13 which they have stepped up for.
The focus on it being in Turin also comes on Christian Pulisic’s shoulders, given he has missed two now, one in the Olimpico Grande Torino, and this weekend’s at the Allianz Stadium against Juventus. Something which he feels immense pain from.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Last season, as Gazzetta dello Sport, his miss could not help Milan in a 2-1 loss against Torino. This time, the circumstances were different, a chance to get the lead in the 53rd minute and keep their place at the top of the league.
Unfortunate or problematic
Pulisic has only missed two spot kicks in his career, both coming in the space of eight months. For Massimiliano Allegri, it happens, even if he was left frustrated by the decision to shoot in a certain manner.
Since 2024, the Diavolo have now failed to score seven times from their 13 attempts, a success rate of 46%, the worst in Europe’s top five leagues. Unfortunately, five of the errors come from four different takers.
In these games, the Rossoneri have been on the receiving end of three defeats and a draw; it is a problem. However, Allegri will not change his decision to keep Pulisic as the primary spot kick taker; we know this from when Paulo Dybala missed twice in a row.
It’s back to the drawing board, but only for Pulisic. He remains number one.
I don’t know they’re penalties. They’re a lottery.
Plus there’s been multiple takers. So why don’t they just stick to one and hope that the luck changes.
That is what they’re doing by sticking to Pulisic
Great.
“I don’t know they’re penalties. They’re a lottery.”
LOL. Nope. Anyone who has played the game knows it’s not a lottery. It’s a game of nerves. The one with the better nerves will win. Pulisic could have taken a glimpse at DG and see him already going left (from Puli’s POV) and he could have placed the ball calmly to center or right. He didn’t. He didn’t have the confidence to look at the goal and that cost him the goal. There was zero need to aim for the upper corner as the GK had already placed his bet on the wrong direction. Simple. Not lottery. Game of nerves.
He’s never played football in his life. Forgive him
Pulisic didn’t have the confidence? Before this penalty he had missed once in fifteen attempts! It is a miss, that happens.
If he had been 100% confident, he would have kept his eyes on the goal/goalie instead of looking down. His posture wasn’t good and his kick failed him. Yes. It was confidence that let him down.
He had missed penalty against Torino in spring. His second miss (if we count pre-seasons) and maybe that miss was in the back of his mind, who knows. But he wasn’t as calm and relaxed as he could have been when he took the shot on Sunday. Lack of confidence.