Milan ended their pre-season tour of Asia in emphatic vogue, dismantling Perth Glory with a 9-0 victory in Western Australia. Whereas the efficiency supplied glimpses of attacking brilliance and tactical experimentation beneath Massimiliano Allegri, one notable absence raised questions: Christian Pulisic was nowhere to be seen.
The American worldwide, an important determine within the Rossoneri’s attacking setup, was omitted of the squad for the pleasant — sparking hypothesis amongst followers and pundits alike. So, why was Pulisic unavailable for Milan’s last pre-season conflict?
Regardless of the absence of their No. 11, Milan confirmed no mercy towards a struggling Perth Glory facet, with Noah Okafor and Rafael Leão each netting braces, and Samuel Chukwueze and Yunus Musah including to the tally. Even teenage midfielder Christian Comotto earned a penalty and scored a cheeky panenka, showcasing the depth Allegri has at his disposal.
From the opening whistle, the Serie A large regarded sharp. Simply three minutes in, Filippo Terracciano opened the scoring, and Okafor’s scientific finishes quickly gave the Rossoneri a commanding lead. Within the second half, Leao got here off the bench and wanted solely 15 seconds to attain, whereas Samuele Ricci’s top-corner strike raised eyebrows as one of many objectives of the match.
But, at the same time as followers cheered Milan’s offensive showcase, the absence of Christian Pulisic didn’t go unnoticed.
The true motive behind Pulisic’s absence
In keeping with MilanNews, the choice to sideline Pulisic was precautionary. The 25-year-old suffered a minor ankle knock in Milan’s 4-2 victory over Liverpool earlier within the tour.
“Christian Pulisic was unavailable for Milan’s pleasant towards Perth Glory as a result of a minor harm sustained towards Liverpool,” the outlet reported. “Coach Massimiliano Allegri determined to not threat the American ahead for the ultimate pre-season match.”
The knock will not be anticipated to maintain him out long-term, and sources near the membership recommend he’ll return to coaching forward of the membership’s upcoming fixtures in Italy. Having simply begun his third season at San Siro, Pulisic has turn into a pivotal determine in Allegri’s evolving venture, tallying 32 objectives in 100 appearances throughout all competitions since arriving from Chelsea in 2023.
