It looked like an NFL game.
Christian Pulisic fought along with his blocker and former teammate Yacine Adli after which ran an inside-out route. He managed to direct the ball from Theo Hernandez to the far post, jumped up and executed a powerful volley back across the goal within the sort of AC Milan great Marco van Basten.
It was from a pointy angle. Both feet were off the bottom and Pulisic in some way managed to beat David de Gea, a goalkeeper who otherwise seemed unbeatable in Florence.
My eyes are on luxury, Pulisic 🔥#Italian_League pic.twitter.com/XEk5vjwnLb
– Italian League (@SerieA_AR) October 7, 2024
The goal must have been the important story. But Milan lost 1-2 against Fiorentina. It was the second defeat in a row across all competitions.
The otherwise unflappable Paulo Fonseca didn't need to talk concerning the referee at Artemio Franchi. At least not intimately. “I love this game,” said the Milan head coach, “and I don't want to contribute to this circus.” The referee had identified the penalty in favor of Fiorentina after which awarded Milan two penalties. Pulisic, as Milan's designated taker, could have ended the evening with a hat-trick.
But he didn't take any of them. Theo Hernandez, who was captain of Milan, stepped up to attain the primary goal, hoping to make it 1-1 just before half-time. It was his birthday and if he had scored he would have grow to be the highest-scoring defender in Milan's history. De Gea thwarted his plans.
Then Fikayo Tomori caught the ball and handed it to his best friend Tammy Abraham to try next time. This didn't come as a whole surprise. In September, Milan also received some penalties against Venezia. Pulisic blocked the primary ball after which allowed Abraham to take the second. The Englishman had recently arrived on loan from Roma and his teammates wanted him to get off to an excellent start. Unlike in Florence, where Milan were still hoping for an equalizer, they were 3-0 up on the San Siro against a winless newcomer.
Abraham opened his account against Venezia. But De Gea stopped him from continuing on the weekend.
While Pulisic's volley equalized for Milan shortly afterwards, Fiorentina won and Fonseca couldn’t hide his disappointment at his players' disregard for team instructions. “Of course I told the players that something like this shouldn’t happen again. The player who should take over is Christian. And I’m mad about it.”
The result, the penalty farrago and Hernandez's late red card dominated the headlines, which might have been stolen by Pulisic if the consequence was different. He won't forget his goal anytime soon. Technically speaking, it was his best result since moving to Italy a yr ago, although he could perhaps make a case for his debut goal in Bologna, against Frosinone, when he brought down Mike Maignan's goal kick with a Velcro-like first touch from an extended corner player against Monza and Lecce.
Pulisic's most vital goal undoubtedly got here last month when he became the primary American ever to attain within the Derby della Madonnina, stopping a six-game losing streak against Inter as Milan beat their rivals for the primary time in two years.
Pulisic celebrates his goal against Inter (Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
That means the Pulisic who flew home during Mauricio Pochettino's first games as USMNT coach is arguably one of the best Pulisic of all time.
Ahead of the games against Panama on Saturday and Mexico on Tuesday, the 26-year-old said: “Yes, it's hard to explain (his form). I think there are times in your career when it feels like everything you touch is going in, and other times when you feel like you're trying everything and the ball just isn't going in. As an attacking player, we've all been through it. I just try to live in that moment when things seem to be going well and just keep going. It is the result of all the work I have put in throughout my life. So it shouldn't be a surprise. I know I have that ability and I’m just going to go that high, I think.”
His recent USMNT coach can be pleased, describing Pulisic as “a great, great player, a fantastic player, a player who will help now and in the future to get the team to the place we want.” He is one one of the best offensive players on the planet.”
But there have been also concerns that Pulisic might overexert himself. “He plays each game, each minute. I feel that's also because we're slightly frightened that we’ve got to guard (him) sometimes. We'll see. Because he arrived slightly drained. But that's something I've told (you) before, which is to construct a superb relationship with the club and take a look at to assist and after we actually need him he needs to be in shape, pleased and robust.”
Nobody in Serie A has been involved in more goals during Pulisic's time in the league (21 + 12 assists); not Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, not Lautaro Martinez, nor teammate Rafael Leao.
Anyone who doubts his stamina should remember that he started 44 games for Milan last season and played more than 4,000 minutes for club and country. Originally signed as a number 10 who could cover the wing positions when needed, he kept Samuel Chukwueze out of the side when Stefano Pioli opted to play him on the right instead.
Pulisic is in excellent form (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)
This season he threatens to grow to be Milan's best overall player. Theo and Leao remain probably the most talented. But each are cold and hot. Meanwhile, Pulisic continues to deliver. He has scored in 4 consecutive league games for the primary time in Europe's top five leagues, a level of consistency partly obscured by Milan's rocky begin to the season.
Yunus Musah, his teammate for club and country, says Pulisic is able to doing just that. “It's not a surprise,” he said on Friday, “but it's always good to see him scoring and helping the team. “He's our (Milan's) best attacking player in the mean time and I hope he continues like that.”
🥁🥁 The September MVP is… 🥁🥁
Bow, @pulisic! 👏@emirates #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/VJ0YV8wdc6
– AC Milan (@acmilan) October 4, 2024
Admittedly, not every goal performance was a whole performance. Pulisic scored within the defeat at Parma after which faded like the remaining of the team. But against Inter he played like he was possessed. Pulisic repeatedly attacked the defense, stole the ball from Henrikh Mkhitaryan for his goal, silenced the team's critics and later tackled Alessandro Bastoni, prompting the Italy international to push him to the bottom.
“Christian’s involvement in our game is more effective,” Fonseca told DAZN. It got here about for several reasons.
On the one hand, he’s becoming more mature and knows the league and his teammates higher. On the opposite hand, Milan's recent coaching staff has barely adjusted its position. In the defeat to Liverpool, Fonseca tried a special system. Without possession, Milan played a 4-2-4 with a really narrow attacking line. This meant Pulisic was more central, closer to goal and more dangerous after they won the ball back high up, as happened against Inter a couple of days later.
“It's not like he only plays indoors,” Fonseca explained. “There are times when he goes far too. This means he is closer to the goal, the shot and the assist. He knows how to play between the lines and that's important to me. He also scored goals like a No. 9.”
If only he would take more punishment. If only he had higher full-back support than Emerson Royal, Milan could get much more bang for his or her buck. But the €20 million (£16.7 million; $21.9 million) they paid for Pulisic a yr ago looks higher with every pass.
The move worked for her, for him and, because the World Cup approaches, for USMNT.
image credit : www.nytimes.com