Tag: Stefano Pioli

Pulisic sends heartfelt message to Pioli: ‘You helped me find joy in the game again’

The USMNT star had his best season ever under the Italian coach’s guidance

Christian Pulisic has sent a message of gratitude to departing AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli, crediting the coach with helping him find joy in the game again.

Pioli signed off on a five-year tenure in charge of Milan on Saturday, coaching the team for the final time in a 3-3 draw with Salernitana.

Pulisic grabbed an assist in the Serie A finale, capping off a career-best season that saw him record 15 goals and 11 assists in his debut campaign with the Rossoneri.

Pioli has been instrumental in Pulisic’s revival, giving the U.S. men’s national team forward the consistent starting role he was never able to nail down at Chelsea.

The American has previously attributed his success in Milan to the trust he received from Pioli, and following Saturday’s game, he posted a heartfelt farewell to the Italian in a post on Instagram.

“Thank you for everything Mister,” Pulisic wrote. “You and your staff helped me find the joy in this beautiful game again and for that I’m most grateful. Wishing you nothing but the best always!

“And thank you fans for the support this year. Here’s to bigger and better things next year.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7aNcXxIc86/?hl=en&img_index=1

Milan finished Pulisic’s debut season in second place, failing to bring home any silverware in an up-and-down campaign.

Pulisic also paid tribute to two departing Milan players in his Instagram story, saying of Simon Kjaer: “It’s been a pleasure, wishing you nothing but the best.”

He also made sure to mention Olivier Giroud, with whom he played at Chelsea and at Milan: “Gonna miss you buddy, some special memories together,” Pulisic said.

With the season over, Pulisic will take some time off before reporting to USMNT camp ahead of pre-Copa América friendlies against Colombia and Brazil next month.

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Stefano Pioli officially exits AC Milan — the USMNT owes him one

The coach was instrumental in the USMNT star’s career-best season

Stefano Pioli’s time as AC Milan manager is over, the club has confirmed.

After five years in charge, Pioli will leave his post following Milan’s last game of the season on Saturday.

Pioli’s time at Milan included some major triumphs, particularly a Serie A title in 2021-22 and a Champions League semifinal berth last season.

But an indifferent 2023-24 campaign has seen Milan opt to move on from the 58-year-old.

“AC Milan extends heartfelt thanks to Stefano Pioli and his entire staff for leading the first team over the past five years, securing an unforgettable league title and re-establishing AC Milan’s consistent presence in the top European competition,” a club statement said.

“Stefano’s professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the club’s core values ​​from day one.”

From an American standpoint, Pioli did plenty of good in his single season coaching U.S. men’s national team pair Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah.

Pioli trusted Musah with plenty of responsibility in his first season with the club, giving the 21-year-old a prominent role in midfield and even in defense occasionally.

As for Pulisic, the coach was instrumental in helping revitalize the USMNT star. Pulisic has delivered a career-best season, which he has attributed in part to the trust he received from Pioli.

“He has really come through on his promises,” Pulisic told Fox Sports in March. “It’s not just knowing you’re going to play — it’s having someone who really spoke to me before and really wanted me to come in.

“He’s given me an opportunity to go out and be myself the best way I know how, and has fit into what works best for the team.”

Paulo Fonseca is reportedly Milan’s choice to take over, after the Portuguese boss led Lille to fourth place in Ligue 1 this season.

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Pioli explains why Pulisic continues to keep Chukwueze out of Milan lineup

The USMNT star is still undroppable for the AC Milan coach

Samuel Chukwueze has been in improved form for AC Milan in recent weeks, but he still has a major roadblock to increased playing time: Christian Pulisic.

The American forward started Saturday’s game against Juventus, and wasn’t replaced by Chukwueze until the 83rd minute despite a subdued performance in a 0-0 draw.

Pulisic has been an ever-present in Pioli’s side this season, and has rewarded his manager with a career season that has seen him score 13 goals in all competitions.

Chukwueze, who like Pulisic was a summer signing prior to this season, has started his Milan career much more slowly, totaling just three goals and two assists since his move from Villarreal.

Though he’s been improved lately, the Nigeria international continues to see limited minutes.

Pioli explained his thought process in his post-match interview with DAZN on Saturday.

“I liked Pulisic instead,” the coach said. “Chukwueze is also doing well but at the moment, I won’t give up an extra midfielder to play with four attacking players and therefore, [Chukwueze] is the one who was sacrificed.”

Pioli has started Chukwueze and Pulisic together before, which has worked to good effect as the USMNT star has moved inside to play as a No. 10. Playing the right wing spot that Pulisic normally occupies, Chukwueze assisted a goal for Pulisic against Lecce earlier this month.

Against a stronger opponent on Saturday, though, Pioli wasn’t ready to play such an attacking lineup.

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Pulisic may yet be dropped by new AC Milan coach, Lalas says

All bets could be off if a new coach doesn’t rate Pulisic, the ex-USMNT defender says

Christian Pulisic’s outstanding season at AC Milan may not count for much if a new head coach doesn’t rate him, according to Alexi Lalas.

Pulisic has set a career high in goals with 13 during his first season with AC Milan following a transfer from Chelsea last summer.

But the coach who brought him to Milan and offered a regular starting role, Stefano Pioli, appears to be heading for the exit at the end of the season, per multiple reports.

Pulisic has credited Pioli on multiple occasions with offering him the platform he needed to reignite his career. But it appears the U.S. national team star will now have to prove himself all over again leading into the 2024-25 campaign.

Speaking on his State of the Union Podcast, Lalas said that coaching changes won’t be anything new for Pulisic, but losing Pioli certainly won’t be a positive development for the 25-year-old.

“He’s been around long enough, he’s a grizzled veteran, even at a relatively young age in his career, and he’s seen how quickly things can change,” the former USMNT defender said.

“I got a question on X this morning about, ‘Has he done enough?’ Yeah, he’s done more than enough to prove his worth, to prove his value to Milan. Matter of fact, I think you could argue he’s been their best player.

“It doesn’t matter because when there is a changing of the guard, there’s often a change of mentality and you have people that come in with their preconceived notions and their baggage and their direction that they want to go.

“Who knows? Christian Pulisic might be in a place that thousands of players have been, where they are just not part of the plans going forward. The good part for Christian Pulisic is I think there will be a lot of suitors out there.”

Pulisic and Milan will face Juventus in Serie A on Saturday in a game that could feature four USMNT players, with Yunus Musah lining up for Milan and Weston McKennie and Tim Weah featuring for the Bianconeri.

Watch Lalas on Pulisic’s AC Milan situation

AC Milan boss Pioli: Pulisic could play No. 10 role vs. Lecce

The USMNT star may get a shot at a new role this weekend

Christian Pulisic has excelled for AC Milan this season as a wide attacking player, but it appears he could get a shot to play as a No. 10 this weekend.

Milan will face Lecce in a Serie A match on Saturday at San Siro, with the club’s usual No. 10, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, suspended after picking up a yellow card last weekend.

That leaves head coach Stefano Pioli with a conundrum. With three in-form attacking players in Pulisic, Samuel Chukwueze and Rafael Leão, Pioli could be tempted to try and fit them all into the same lineup in Loftus-Cheek’s absence.

The coach said at his pre-match press conference that he could play Pulisic as the No. 10 in his 4-2-3-1 formation, with Chukwueze and Leão on either side and Olivier Giroud at striker.

“It’s a solution we are evaluating,” said Pioli of the setup.

Chukwueze has struggled for much of his first season at Milan after a summer move from Villarreal, but the Nigeria winger has started to turn things around over the past several games.

“I am delighted with Chukwu,” Pioli said. “My collaborators showed him some videos today, and the stats we collected in the last three games are even superior to those from his time at Villarreal. He is fit, physically and mentally, he must continue like this. He has important characteristics for the attack.”

In January, Pioli indicated he’d like to try Pulisic as the No. 10 — or trequartista — at some stage, but he couldn’t at that point with Chukwueze away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

It seems like Saturday could be the time for Pulisic to play his first minutes in Milan as a trequartista.

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Pulisic credits Pioli for AC Milan success: ‘He’s come through on his promises’

The USMNT forward has already set a career high in goals this season

Amid a career-best season in Italy, Christian Pulisic has credited AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli for keeping his promises.

In his first season with Milan, Pulisic has already set a career high for goals in all competitions with 12. After entering the international break on a run of four straight games with a goal, the American forward still has a minimum of 11 games remaining this season to add to his haul.

Pulisic struggled for regular playing time during the end of his spell at Chelsea, but he’s started 25 of Milan’s 29 league games so far. Speaking to Fox Sports, Pulisic said Pioli has held up his end of the bargain after lobbying for him to join Milan last summer.

“He has really come through on his promises,” Pulisic said. “It’s not just knowing you’re going to play — it’s having someone who really spoke to me before and really wanted me to come in.

“He’s given me an opportunity to go out and be myself the best way I know how, and has fit into what works best for the team. I think we’ve found a good balance of that.”

Pioli has been under pressure at times this season, but the coach appears to have steadied the ship of late. Milan is currently second place in the Serie A table and has reached the last eight of the Europa League, where a meeting with Italian rival Roma awaits.

Pulisic also spoke highly of the lifestyle in Milan, which he said has been a refreshing change of pace after five years in London.

“The lifestyle over here is definitely a shift from London,” Pulisic said. “Everything feels a bit slowed-down. Obviously nicer weather. It’s been a great change for me.

“Everything was moving kind of 100 miles an hour when I was in London, and the football culture was crazy. Here, I’ve been able to get away from the game, too, and enjoy the lifestyle, the culture, the food. I’m liking it a lot.”

Pulisic will aim to add to his record goal haul on Saturday, when Milan visits Fiorentina in a Serie A match.

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AC Milan manager Pioli: Musah is a complete player

“Wherever I use him, he will be important for the team”

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has praised Yunus Musah’s versatility, saying the U.S. national team midfielder is a “complete player.”

Musah has begun to emerge as an important squad player for Milan after his offseason arrival from Valencia, making five total appearances for the club so far this season.

The 20-year-old has played multiple roles for the Rossoneri, starting as a wide player against Hellas Verona last weekend before coming off the bench at Cagliari in midweek and playing in defensive midfield.

Ahead of Saturday’s game against Lazio, where Musah could make his second start of the season, Pioli praised the USMNT man, saying he could play all three midfield roles in his 4-3-3 formation.

“Musah can play in all three positions,” Pioli said. “He has different characteristics from [Rade] Krunić and [Yacine] Adli, and he is able to penetrate when he plays further forward.

“He has qualities that we will need a lot; he is a complete player, and wherever I use him, he will be important for the team.”

Though he typically operates in a 4-3-3, Pioli said that he was considering moving to a 4-2-3-1 formation for the match against Lazio.

“I am considering it because [Christian] Pulisic is in good shape and in midfield, we have five players for six positions,” Pioli said. “Plus, I like [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek as a central midfielder; these are things that need a bit of testing.

“At the moment, we are working on other solutions, but 4-2-3-1 during the game is an option.”

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Pulisic impressing AC Milan manager Pioli, gets two assists in preseason match

Pulisic’s start to life in Italy sounds promising

Christian Pulisic has only been at AC Milan for a few days, but his new boss is loving what he’s seeing.

Manager Stefano Pioli, in an interview with Sky Sports Italy, said that the U.S. men’s national team star has already shown the qualities that saw Milan help free him from Chelsea in a €22 million transfer completed on July 13.

“Pulisic is a player,” enthused Pioli. “When I say that, I mean that he is someone who knows how to do the right thing at the right time. And when you have someone like him at your disposal, things become easier.”

Serie A has always been noted as a league where decision-making and tactical understanding are prized traits, and Pioli added that the Pennsylvania native is showing he belongs at one of the league’s true giants.

“He is certainly intelligent,” said Pioli. “[He] beats his man, both in one-on-ones, in give-and-go or on through balls. He is of the level — and is different from — his teammates.”

While Pulisic’s role for the USMNT has been pretty consistently defined for years now, Pioli said that between a willingness to vary his formations and Pulisic’s own versatility, his position at AC Milan might change throughout the season.

Pulisic “can play in various positions,” explained Pioli before noting that Milan — who toggled back and forth between a 4-2-3-1 system and various back three formations last season — will consider using a 4-3-3 as a starting point in the upcoming campaign.

Playing on the left wing, Pulisic produced two assists and struck the post in the opening 17 minutes of a 7-0 friendly win over Serie D club FC Lumezzane on Thursday.

“A lot will depend on the knowledge we have on the pitch, or if other players arrive,” said Pioli. “We will also use other systems, but we’re already used to changing within the same match… I continue to believe that different characteristics, in a well-defined game system, can give a team more unpredictability.”

Based on Pulisic’s start to life with the Rossoneri, it looks like one thing we can predict is a bigger role than he got at Chelsea.

Watch Pulisic’s assists for AC Milan

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