USMNT captain Christian Pulisic finally played for AC Milan on Saturday, as Stefano Pioli said he would. He had missed the USMNT’s Nations League doubleheader against Trinidad and Tobago (3-0, 2-1) because of a small muscle injury.
Pulisic was back in the starting lineup for Italy’s game against Fiorentina on Saturday. “Captain America” started for the first time since he hurt himself before the November international break.
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Pulisic’s quiet night when he got back
Theo Hernandez’s spot kick helped Milan beat Fiorentina 1-0 in the end, but Pulisic wasn’t the talk of the town that night. The forward almost scored when he had a chance to put a shot past Terracciano in the other team’s goal, but he didn’t. The minutes helped him get back to match speed and form. But for now, the player’s main goal is to fully recover from his injury and make sure he’s ready to play. Things went well in that area.
Stefano Pioli chose not to risk the 25-year-old player any further after he played for just over an hour in the win. He took him off the field at the San Siro and replaced him with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, a former Chelsea player.
A big week for AC Milan
Pioli’s plan worked in the end, as Milan got three important points in their race for the top spot. They are now third in Serie A, behind Juventus and Inter Milan, who play each other on Sunday.
Pulisic’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for Milan. Pioli’s team has a big week coming up that will have a direct effect on the club’s long- and medium-term future: they play Borussia Dortmund in the middle of the week in a game that could either seal their Champions League spot or tear it apart. As he has already shown, Christian Pulisic and his USMNT teammate Yunus Musah will be very important for the seven-time European winners in that match.
Barcelona will play AC Milan at San Siro on Tuesday, November 28 at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) in Group F of the Champions League.
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