There has been a lot of talk about Tijjani Reijnders’ form and Yunus Musah’s role, but Christian Pulisic will be the main man for AC Milan against Atalanta.
That is according to Corriere dello Sport (seen below), which writes this morning about how Pulisic is the ‘extra man’ to hurt an Atalanta side that seem unbeatable. Pulisic is Milan’s ‘anti-Gasp’ in view of tonight’s match at the Gewiss Stadium.
It is not just because of his fantastic numbers, either. The USA international will be a tactical key, because – as Paulo Fonseca highlighted in his pre-match press conference – Atalanta play an aggressive man-to-man style.
Thus, the former Chelsea man will in fact operate between the lines in a role created specifically for him by Fonseca, who has always wanted him there since the beginning of the season because he is more decisive in tight spaces than the other options.
With eight goals and six assists in 19 games played so far, it would be fair to say he has continued his outstanding form. In general, no player has done better than him in Italy since he arrived last summer (23 goals and 17 assists).
However, he hasn’t scored in the league for exactly two months, the away game against Fiorentina more precisely. What could help him tonight is having the license to roam and drag the La Dea defenders around, given they must stick to man-on-man assignments.
If he can find the right position to receive the ball and then continue doing what he does best, then Milan might get some joy against the team that have won eight in a row.
Gabbia-Thiaw real test is this game!
“However, he hasn’t scored in the league for exactly two months, the away game against Fiorentina more precisely. What could help him tonight is having the license to roam and drag the La Dea defenders around, given they must stick to man-on-man assignments.”
To be more precise, he hasn’t score since Fonseca turned him from a right winger to an attacking midfielder and had barely any goal contribution since then.
I agree completely. He isn’t a CAM, he is best at either wing. But I don’t see any other options for Fonseca. Puli has to be on the pitch
There is.
He could do what he did against Real Madrid, where Pulisic was a RW, Musah was a RWB and Emerson was the third CB but acted like a RB offensively.
So a 3-4-3.
Plus a 3-4-3 will allow him to mimick Atalanta’s shape.
I agree. When he plays at CAM, he starts his positioning there in central spots and drifts around as usual. But I find him to be most effective at RW where he starts there and drifts inside especially when Leao pulls the opposition to one side. I think coach might be confusing him occupying central spots as a RW with him being able to play CAM.
On another note, in a weird way Pulisic is suffering due to Emerson..if he could have defended properly we wouldn’t need Musah to occupy the RW 🤦♂️
He has been more selfish lately
The “hasn’t scored in two months” is a bit misleading due to the two international breaks in that time. Pulisic has had three league starts plus two 20-minute sub appearances in the past two months. He has one goal (Fio) and two assists (Udinese, Empoli) in those three league starts.
In the same two months, he has:
– two goals and one assist in the Champions League.
-one goal and two assists for the USA.
Bottom line: when Pulisic has started, he’s scored or assisted in almost every game that he’s played this season for club or country.