Christian Pulisic has quickly become one of AC Milan’s most valuable players since joining from Chelsea in 2023.
The American star has lit up Serie A with his attacking prowess, establishing himself as a fan favorite at the San Siro. His impressive performances have seen him become a regular starter under various managers.
AC Milan’s recent form, however, has been concerning. The European giants have slipped to eighth in the Serie A table, falling behind in the race for Champions League spots.
Their struggles continued on Thursday with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Bologna, further damaging their top-four hopes.
Why Pulisic was benched
In this crucial match, many fans were surprised to see Pulisic starting on the bench. The American, who leads Milan with nine assists and is tied for the team lead with 12 goals, only entered the game in the 61st minute. This decision raised questions about his status with the team.
Manager Sérgio Conceição has now explained the reasoning behind this choice. “On the day of the match against Bologna, the doctors told me Pulisic couldn’t start the match,” Conceição revealed in his pre-Lazio press conference. This medical advice forced the Portuguese coach to adjust his tactics unexpectedly.
“At that moment, I had to find a solution,” Conceição continued. “I had to move Yunus Musah and put João Félix on who shouldn’t have played from the start.”
The manager then provided more details about Pulisic’s condition. “I’ll tell you the truth. He has had a small physical problem for a month and we have to manage it,” he stated. “You can see it in his physical freshness.”
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This isn’t an isolated incident for Pulisic. He’s battled several muscle injuries recently, missing a January match against Juventus and nearly all of December with calf and ankle problems.
Despite these challenges, AC Milan clearly values Pulisic’s contributions. Reports suggest the club plans to extend his contract until 2029 with a salary increase from €4 million to €5 million annually.