This summer, it was hoped that Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao would get to their best levels for AC Milan, and they were. However, they have hit a wall.
It is undeniable that the start of this season was as good as we have seen either Pulisic or Leao in front of goal. The pair were phenomenal and regularly looked like making an impact on the game. However, they have slowed.
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Whilst they are still the guys to rely on, Milan have not been able to point out their impact as regularly, due to the injuries which both have suffered in parts of this season. If it has not been one, then it has been the other.
Issues sticking
Gazzetta dello Sport, this morning, write that they’re ‘not feeling well’ and more importantly, they’re not scoring. The American is yet to find the net since the start of 2025, whilst Leao is on a four-game goalless streak.
Whilst the schedule has not helped at all, due to both suffering from injuries, it has also potentially exaggerated the issues with both.
It cannot be denied that they have been impressive so far, and their current form is tormenting. However, the subtle physical issues take a long time to fully resolve, so patience must be required. Once they are fully back to normal, things should return to their previous state.
In fairness Pulisic could’ve had 3-4 goals but was unlucky/missed chances.
They’ll come back.
Look at their numbers over the years.
Adding to that, we have barely seen Rafa-Puli . Give them a few games before we call the experiment a failure. They’ve played together a few times and it is usually with one (or both) coming back from an injury.
IMHO, if we really really need that target man, Allegri must find a way to fit Puli, Rafa and our only target man Fulkrug in the lineup. Current slump or not, Rafa and Puli are our most decisive players and they need to play.
And also in fairness, look at the minutes Pulisic has played in the last 2 matches. Not even 45min combined.
That’s because these guys aren’t strikers, they are wingers. And while Puli can drift anywhere in the box, they both still need a classic 9 to bounce off as they come on off the wing. That’s the forte.
What Allegri doing is limiting the offense to bolster the defense.
Exactly. I think people should stop talking about winning the Scudetto. Allergri’s goal is top four. You can see that in tie games, rather then become more offensive, he continues to be defensive, even against smaller teams. Some posters point to how many goals ACM have scored. I point to how many ties against lower level teams ACM has. Winning by a nose is good until it starts leading to ties. Well, wanting to play to win is true for me, but I’m not the manager. For Allegri, he’s fine with it. I will say you better watch out for Roma and Juve coming on. Juve is looking stronger. I will also add for all those people comparing Musah to Mckinnie when there was foolish talk of him coming to ACM, the only similarity is that they are American. Also, when Lukaku fully recovers Napoli will be in there fighting for a top four spot- but not the Scudetto.
No one at the club is pressuring Allegri to deliver the Scudetto, remember? Just Top4 at 5mil a season to NOT win the league. And he’s on pace to do just that. Astonishing.
No wonder Max took the gig.
True. So these articles talking about the Scudetto are more click bait than reality. While Milan is on track for top four, other teams seem to be coming on. So, I would worry about a continuation of tie games.
PuLeao never hit a wall. It was a failed concept to begin with.
Leão is a left winger. He was purchased as a striker, but wasn’t very good at it and thrived only on the left wing.
Pulišić is a winger who can play as a second striker or attacking midfielder (but not very good at the latter).
The PuLeao means one of them has to be a second striker/left winger while the other has to play centrally as a striker.
It wasn’t meant to work, was tried and didn’t work and I don’t think it’s gonna work in the future.
As pointed above, none of them can play as a striker and this system (3-5-2) requires a striker and a second striker.
So unless we ditch the 3-5-2, we will have to bench one of them.
He could go to a 3-4-2-1 like Napoli, but won’t happen. ACM are what they are. No change coming.
3-4-2-1 would be perfect for this team though.
It’s hilarious – our best player works hard to create 3 chances on his own for himself (with a little help from Fullkrug) and fails to convert and all of a sudden he’s on the bench – terrible management –
And the worst part… He’s been replaced by NKUNKU!!!!!!! How fng absurd is that?!!!!