Tag: AC Milan

Christian Pulisic stunned the soccer world with an ‘Olimpico’ goal from a corner in the UEFA Champions League

He scored straight from a CORNER.

Ever since making the move from Chelsea to AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A, Christian Pulisic has enjoyed a much-needed career renaissance. And his unbelievable 2024-25 season has managed to get even better.

Pulisic — now with 10 goal contributions in 11 matches for Milan — had the start in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League match against Belgian side Club Brugge. And though Milan struggled to put pressure on attack for much of the first half, Pulisic broke open the scoring in the most unexpected way.

Literally. He scored a goal straight from a corner kick with a 0.00 xG (expected goals). Even Pulisic was stunned that he pulled off the elusive “Olimpico” goal.

Just wow. You know things are going your way when that finds the back of the net.

Initially, it looked like that the ball may have nicked Matteo Gabbia, but Pulisic was given the goal (his seventh of the season) on the field. And Gabbia’s reaction — going straight to Pulisic — suggested that he didn’t touch the ball.

Understandably, the Olimpico had the soccer world in awe.

This was how Twitter/X reacted

https://twitter.com/rainy_steve/status/1848781444753092980

https://twitter.com/sportsbrain/status/1848779757359665298

https://twitter.com/Nicocantor1/status/1848780481225003191

https://twitter.com/TheBolivianYank/status/1848781635417710624

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421334705]

Musah sparks stunning AC Milan comeback vs. Torino with assist

Pulisic overcame an injury to suit up for Milan, but Musah ended up making the bigger impact in a dramatic late comeback

Yunus Musah played a major role as AC Milan escaped a potentially troubling start to the 2024-25 Serie A season.

The U.S. men’s national team midfielder came off the bench to notch an assist in stoppage time as the Rossoneri recovered from a two-goal deficit after 88 minutes to secure a 2-2 draw with Torino.

Saturday’s clash was a debut for new manager Paulo Fonseca, but it looked destined to be an opener to forget for Milan. Malick Thiaw’s 30th-minute own goal seemed to suck the air out of the San Siro, and — moments after a Milan penalty was overturned by VAR — Duvan Zapata made it 2-0 to the visitors.

Fonseca turned to his bench, first giving Spain striker Álvaro Morata his competitive debut before bringing Musah on for his USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic.

Largely setting up at right back, Musah played a major role as Milan conjured up a stunning late escape. Opta credited him with playing a part in a whopping seven shot attempts after entering the match in the 73rd minute.

First, the 21-year-old’s long-range effort eventually became Morata’s first Milan goal. Musah struck with power, only for a Torino defender to provide a block. The rebound fell to Tijjani Reijnders, who fizzed a ball in for the veteran striker to calmly guide home in the 89th minute.

Musah was a bigger factor in the equalizer. Receiving the ball in space on the right, the USMNT midfielder swung in an inch-perfect cross for Noah Okafor, who didn’t have to break stride to volley past Torino’s Vanja Milinković-Savić.

Pulisic, meanwhile, started as Milan’s No. 10 on the day, a possibility Fonseca discussed coming into the season.

While Saturday wasn’t the USMNT star’s best day at the office — his last action of the match was a shot over the bar from point-blank range — it will come as a relief nonetheless. Pulisic was an injury doubt heading into the match, with his status unclear until Milan released its starting lineup on the day.

Watch Musah’s dramatic late assist

[lawrence-related id=80114,80108,79932]

Pulisic returns to full training ahead of AC Milan season opener

The USMNT star is on course to start on Saturday against Torino

AC Milan got some good news on Thursday, as Christian Pulisic returned to full training ahead of the team’s season opener against against Torino on Saturday.

Pulisic was sidelined for Milan’s final preseason friendly due to an ankle knock, as the American was held out of his team’s 3-1 win over Monza on Tuesday.

After the 25-year-old trained separately from his teammates on Wednesday, MilanNews.it reported that he was back in full training the following day, putting him on course to start Saturday’s Serie A opener at San Siro.

Pulisic is likely to start against Torino, but there is still a question over where he will line up. The U.S. national team star was primarily used as a right winger last season, but new coach Paulo Fonseca has indicated his willingness to play Pulisic as the No. 10.

The Pennsylvania native lined up as the No. 10 in preseason, and could be set to reprise that role more often in the upcoming season.

Wherever he plays, Milan will hope that Pulisic can replicate, or improve on a career-best campaign in 2023-24 that saw him tally 15 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

[lawrence-related id=79928,79837,79492]

Pulisic to miss AC Milan’s final preseason friendly with ankle knock

The USMNT star will hope to be ready for Saturday’s Serie A opener

Christian Pulisic will be sidelined for AC Milan’s final preseason friendly with an ankle knock, per multiple reports.

Milan will face Monza on Tuesday for the Silvio Berlusconi Trophy, just days before the Rossoneri kick off the regular season with a league match against Torino on Saturday.

Gazzetta dello Sport and Calciomercato both reported that Pulisic will be held out against Monza, but should be recovered in time for Saturday’s match at San Siro.

Pulisic played in all three of Milan’s matches on its recently completed U.S. tour, coming off the bench against Man City and Real Madrid before starting and scoring a goal against Barcelona.

The 25-year-old will be looking to replicate, or even surpass his outstanding debut season with Milan. Pulisic scored a career-high 15 goals in all competitions last term, adding 11 assists.

Pulisic played mostly as a right winger last season, but new Milan coach Paulo Fonseca has used him in a more central role this preseason.

[lawrence-related id=79492,79097,78923]

AC Milan boss Fonseca puts Musah transfer rumors to rest

The midfielder was strongly linked with a move to Lyon last week

Yunus Musah’s name has been involved in transfer rumors of late, but AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca is adamant that the American is going nowhere.

Last week, Foot Mercato reported that Lyon was in talks with Milan over a transfer for the midfielder, who was valued at €22 million.

Musah had an up-and-down debut campaign with Milan last term, shifting in and out of the lineup while playing a variety of positions.

Stefano Pioli left his position as Milan head coach at the end of the season, with Fonseca coming in from Lille as his replacement.

Fonseca has led Milan to wins over Manchester City and Real Madrid to kick off the team’s U.S. tour. After Musah played 25 minutes in Wednesday’s win over Madrid in Chicago, Fonseca made it clear that he envisions the 21-year-old staying for his sophomore campaign with Milan.

“I’m 200% sure he’s the kind of player for our game. He showed [against Real Madrid] in 30 minutes, it was amazing with just a few days of working with us,” Fonseca said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m very confident with him. I believe he can be very important for our team. But of course, he must improve many things, but my opinion? He has the right characteristics to play in this position in our game.”

Milan will close out its tour of the U.S. with a game against Barcelona in Baltimore on Tuesday.

[lawrence-related id=79215,55202,76941]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic on United States soccer’s pay-to-play model: ‘it was pretty expensive’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic talks about the ‘pay-to-play’ model in the United States.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — One of the best soccer players of his generation, former Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic still believes that the United States model for player development should look and feel different. The now AC Milan executive said that playing soccer in the United States faces the unique challenge of being expensive to play.

Ibrahimovic made his comments as part of a media event at The Pingry School to promote AC Milan‘s tour of the United States. His most recent thoughts about American soccer echo similar comments he made while as a player for the LA Galaxy.

These new thoughts also come at a time when the United States is taking a hard look at the program given that the men’s national team crashed out of Copa America in the group stages.

Having spent two years in MLS, Ibrahimovic had an up-close look at the developmental system in the United States. Ibrahimovic was critical of the ‘pay-to-play’ system present throughout much of youth soccer, where players (or more aptly, their families) are expected to foot the bill to join a club.

This is in direct contrast with much of the rest of the world where organized soccer is not a commodity as much as it is a community.

“I had the experience when I was here that it was pretty expensive to put the kids in the academy or the football – you call it soccer – soccer teams,” Ibrahimovic said on Friday.

“In Europe, it is free to play the game – they have a small membership I think for insurance or whatever. But it’s not the same price as it was here.

“For me, football is for everybody you just put the ball in the middle and everybody plays, obviously. Then you have different levels, different structure, different way of doing things. If that is the key, I don’t know – listen, I’m not here. The game continues, the game gets better. What the key is? I don’t know. Football is for everybody because it is connecting everybody, it is the world’s biggest sport and everybody should be able to enjoy it.”

Ibrahimovic, who enjoyed two storied spells with AC Milan as a player, is now a senior advisor to the club. AC Milan finished second in the Serie A last year.

Oh, and Ibrahimovic knows a thing or two about player development. His son, Maximilian, just signed with AC Milan in mid-July.

The rising star is 17 years old.

[lawrence-related id=101526241,101526217,101526196]

Leao: I’d prefer Pulisic to play as a No. 10

The Portuguese star wants to see Pulisic a bit closer to him on the field

Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic formed a potent connection with AC Milan last season, but the former is now hoping to see the latter play a bit closer to him on the pitch.

Pulisic had a career-best campaign with Milan in 2023-24, scoring 15 total goals as he lined up on the right flank, while Leão posed a huge attacking threat on the left flank.

The American star would occasionally be given chances to play more centrally as an attacking playmaker, producing some strong displays in the middle as well.

Leão would like to see Pulisic get more chances to play in the middle in 2024-25.

“I knew the quality of Christian. When he arrived, I sent him a message and I told him, ‘Bro, let’s kill them,’ because I needed someone like him to bring something different on the pitch,” Leão told “Futbol Americas” on ESPN.

“I’m very happy to have him as a teammate, he’s a player who can change the game like this,” he added. “I’m happy with him and I expect him to do the same or better this season.”

The Portugal international added: “I’m not a coach, but I prefer Christian as a No. 10. In the middle he has space to go to the left or the right and he shoots very well.

“I think Christian can be very dangerous as a No. 10, but I think he fits well in our team as a 10 or on the right. As a 10 he can give me assists, we can do one-twos in the middle of the pitch … he can do whatever.”

Leão could get his wish in the upcoming campaign, as new Milan coach Paulo Fonseca has said Pulisic is an option for him centrally.

Watch Leão discuss Pulisic

[lawrence-related id=78923,78850,55192]

Real Madrid vs. AC Milan: How to watch friendly, live stream

The Blancos kick off their preseason tour of the U.S. in Chicago

Real Madrid will face AC Milan on Wednesday in a high-profile friendly at Soldier Field in Chicago.

For Madrid, this will be the first of a three-game tour of the United States. After the match against Milan, the Blancos will face Barcelona in New Jersey on Saturday, and will complete its tour with a game against Chelsea in Charlotte on August 6.

One marquee name who won’t be participating is new signing Kylian Mbappé, who is skipping the U.S. tour as he continues to recover after Euro 2024.

The France star’s Madrid debut will likely be on August 14 in the European Super Cup against Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Real Madrid vs. AC Milan on ESPN+” link=”https://go.web.plus.espn.com/Y9KaQm”]

Milan kicked off its U.S. tour with a 3-2 win over Manchester City at Yankee Stadium over the weekend. The Rossoneri will close our their tour on August 6 against Barcelona in Baltimore.

Fans in Chicago should get a glimpse of U.S. national team pair Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic, who made late cameos against Man City as they continued ramping up their fitness following the Copa América.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the game.

Real Madrid vs. AC Milan (friendly)

  • When: Wednesday, July 31
  • Where: Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: ESPN+ (WATCH LIVE)

[lawrence-related id=55173,78282,55192]

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Pro Soccer Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

AC Milan coach Fonseca says Pulisic can play as No. 10

The USMNT star should have more opportunities to play as a No. 10 this upcoming season

Even with a new coach, Christian Pulisic should have more opportunities to play as a No. 10 this upcoming season at AC Milan.

Pulisic had a sensational debut campaign with the Rossoneri last season, playing mostly as a right winger. But head coach Stefano Pioli would occasionally give the American chances to play as an attacking playmaker, which he used to great effect.

Pioli was dismissed at the end of the season, with Paulo Fonseca brought in from Lille to take over as head coach.

Speaking to the media in New York ahead of Milan’s preseason U.S. tour, Fonseca said that Pulisic would again have the chance to play in the middle in the 2024-25 campaign.

“I don’t know if in our structure we can speak about a No. 10, but [Pulisic] can play in that position,” Fonseca said. “We have other players who can play, [Ruben Loftus-Cheek] can play in that position.

“But yes, Christian has characteristics to play in this part of the pitch.”

The Portuguese boss was also full of praise for Pulisic’s debut campaign, which saw the U.S. men’s national team star score a career-best 15 goals in all competitions.

“It’s not easy for a foreigner to arrive in their first year and perform like Christian did because it’s difficult for a player like him to find space in Italy,” Fonseca said. “So if he did so well in the first year, I believe he can do better in the second year.”

Pulisic was given a 10-minute cameo on Saturday night as Milan defeated Manchester City 3-2 in a friendly at Yankee Stadium.

Milan will face Real Madrid in Chicago and Barcelona in Baltimore to close out its tour of America.

[lawrence-related id=78850,77595,72931]

Pulisic turns focus to AC Milan after Copa America disappointment with USMNT

The USMNT star is back with his club, which is ready for a three-game tour of the U.S.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – After a tumultuous summer with the U.S. men’s national team, Christian Pulisic is turning his focus to AC Milan.

Pulisic, the face of the national team program, is currently taking in preseason with AC Milan in the United States. The Serie A giants will play Manchester City on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, part of their three-game tour of the U.S.

AC Milan claims to be the most followed Italian club in the United States, with Pulisic and fellow USMNT star Yunus Musah both prominent parts of the first team. With a balanced and deep squad, there is optimism this year that the Rossoneri can bounce crosstown rival Inter from atop the Serie A standings.

This ambition comes as things with the national team remain a bit muddled.

Following a disappointing Copa América where the USMNT was bounced from the group stage, head coach Gregg Berhalter was fired. The federation has promised a thorough and comprehensive search, one that should see the next head coach guide the team through the 2026 World Cup.

“For us, of course, it was disappointing to exit as early as we did,” Pulisic said on Friday during a press event hosted by AC Milan to promote their tour.

“I have had a lot of time to think about it. For me, it was important to also take the time off and take some rest because it was a long season. And now my focus is here, 100 percent, to be honest. Obviously, some things will change with the national team and a new coach on the way or whatever. But I’ll worry about that in the international windows.

“I’m excited to be here, got some good rest. Really just ready to get started here. Obviously, we have a lot of games ahead this season.”

After a difficult end to his spell at Chelsea, Pulisic re-emerged as a top-tier talent on the club scene last season.

Pulisic scored 15 goals in 50 total appearances last year in an excellent debut campaign with Milan. The club finished second in the Serie A standings.

Coming off the struggles of the previous two years at Chelsea, where playing time and form were often strained, last year saw Pulisic reinvigorated with the Italian giants. It was a strong season that showed his technical quality in the final third in a league known for savvy and nuanced defending.

“When you join a big club there are always a lot of challenges. Coming here, not speaking the language, a new culture, a new country, it can be difficult,” Pulisic said.

“To be honest, some of these guys and just the club in general showed me the support and trust right from the beginning so they made the process very smooth for me. I was able to find a place just enjoying playing my football again. For me, that was the most important thing. I was happy to help the team and contribute and looking forward to an even better year.”

[lawrence-related id=78810,77595,55192]