From all the way over in the United States, alarm bells are ringing at AC Milan regarding Christian Pulisic’s fitness.
Pulisic was voted Serie A Player of the Month for September after a brilliant start to the new season, but – as Calciomercato.com report – he is among the players who missed his national team’s final training session ahead of the friendly against Ecuador.
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During preseason in Asia and in the first few Serie A matches, the former Chelsea man had already suffered some ankle discomfort and there are worries about a lingering issue.
Pochettino’s words
Mauricio Pochettino said at a press conference: “We have some issues with some players like Christian Pulisic, who didn’t train today, and Antonee Robinson. We’ll have to evaluate tomorrow whether they’ll be available or not.”
No details were given on the nature of the issue, which could prevent Pulisic from taking part in the first of two friendlies scheduled for this break. It is against Ecuador, with Milan team-mate Pervis Estupinan expected to start at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The second match of the break is in the early hours of Wednesday 15 October (European time) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Pulisic therefore won’t be back to Italy until Thursday, and won’t be back in training until Friday.
This is two days before the game against Fiorentina on Sunday 20 October. In his first six matches, Pulisic has contributed four goals (plus two in the Coppa Italia) and two assists in the league.
Despite this, the amount of travel for him and Santiago Gimenez – plus a potential knock, while waiting for more updates – could see Rafael Leao and/or Christopher Nkunku used.
Just let him rest then! They’re friendlies, FFS!!!
The US has only a few matches left before a home world cup. I’m sure for Pulisic these games are more important than Milan, for which he cannot be blamed
The USMNT finally has more than just a couple decent players, but they don’t know how to play together as of yet. On one hand you want Pulisic to get it together with his U.S. teammates, but even in friendlies other teams tend to maul Pulisic as he’s their most dangerous player. So you don’t want to see him have to go through that; especially on a team that doesn’t seem to want to win.
The international breaks kinda suck.
All they do is distract and detract from the domestic club seasons.
They need to find ways for players to get more rest coming off of them without clubs having to sit them in competitive games.