An already thrilling Serie A season is about to serve up one in every of its early blockbusters: Milan versus Napoli at San Siro. Christian Pulisic, who has began the marketing campaign in blistering kind, will lead the Rossoneri into battle. However the American star has been handed an enormous increase — one that would tilt the steadiness in Milan’s favor. After weeks of uncertainty, a key teammate has lastly returned from harm, and the timing couldn’t be extra excellent.
Since arriving in Italy, Pulisic has reworked himself into excess of a dependable winger. He has turn into a decisive match-winner, delivering each targets and assists in abundance. In reality, “he’s the primary to have reached not less than 25 targets and 15 assists in Serie A within the final three seasons,” reported Opta.
This season, his productiveness has reached new heights. With 5 targets in his first six appearances throughout league and cup, the American ace has made the strongest begin of his profession, already surpassing his output from the identical stage final season. His consistency is what units him aside, however so too does his versatility.
Over the previous three years, the 27-year-old has been used as a winger, attacking midfielder, false 9, and at the same time as a makeshift full-back. Wherever he performs, he finds a technique to make an impression. Two of his targets this time period have even come from the bench, underlining his skill to adapt to any position.
Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao
Then there’s his rising affect within the dressing room. Although naturally quiet, Pulisic has emerged as a chief. After Santiago Gimenez ended a scoring drought, Pulisic reassured the Mexican ahead: “I all the time inform him to be affected person as a result of he’s performed very nicely in the previous few video games. If he continues like this, he’ll rating loads of targets.” Small moments like these present why teammates look as much as him.
The return of a star and what it means for Milan
For weeks, Milan had been lacking one in every of its most vital attacking weapons. That absence ends now. On Thursday afternoon, Rafael Leao returned to full coaching with the primary staff, sparking big pleasure forward of the Napoli conflict.
The Portuguese ahead had been sidelined since August 17, when he suffered a calf harm within the Coppa Italia win over Bari. Initially thought-about a minor situation, the harm stored him out for greater than 5 weeks, ruling him out of the primary 4 league video games and the Coppa Italia spherical of 32.
Assistant coach Marco Landucci hinted at his comeback earlier within the week: “He couldn’t be there tonight… I believe he’ll be with us within the group on Thursday, every thing’s going nicely, so I believe he’ll be obtainable for Sunday.” His phrases proved correct.
In response to MilanNews, Leao has “totally recovered from the strained calf” and is now anticipated to function in opposition to Napoli. Whereas he could start on the bench, his availability is a large increase for Massimiliano Allegri as he prepares for one of many season’s defining early fixtures.
