Christian Pulisic is “upset” about not yet featuring for AC Milan this season, coach Ruben Amorim said Friday before hinting that the United States star is likely to get some playing time this weekend.
The forward has been an unused substitute for Milan’s opening three Serie A games this season, the first matches in charge for Amorim after replacing Massimiliano Allegri this summer.
While acknowledging Pulisic was not happy with his role so far, Amorim suggested the 27-year-old would be eased back into the team following a bone bruise and microfracture in his lower leg that prematurely ended his World Cup in the round-of-16 loss to Belgium.
Milan visits Lazio on Saturday.
“I think you guys are going to see Pulisic; I don’t know if he is going to start or he’s going to get on the pitch [from the bench],” Amorim told a news conference on Friday. “I think he’s going to play at least a few minutes now and I like Pulisic.
“Pulisic is upset at the moment because he has zero minutes, and I love that,” Amorim added. “I love that in my players. But he’s ready to play. Let’s not forget he had an injury, then in the first training he had a knock, and he stopped a little bit and returned.”
Milan have made a positive start under former Manchester United boss Amorim, with wins over Torino and Venezia being followed up by last week’s draw at Juventus. And Amorim said no player has an automatic right to go straight back into a successful team.
“It doesn’t matter if you are a top player, I don’t take [out] all the other guys who are doing well to put in any player in the world,” he said. “That is my way of living, and this is the way I’m going to die or finish my career.
“Pulisic is really important for us. After the [international break], we’ll have eight weeks with three games per week. I think they are going to be tired of playing, so there’ll be time for everyone.
“Pulisic is really important for us and is going to play a lot of games, but you need to understand the context and history to understand why I do things the way I do. I think you guys will see him this weekend; you will not miss him a lot.”
After the game with Lazio, Milan has two more matches before the FIFA international window, when the United States will play home friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.
Pulisic endured a disappointing World Cup with multiple injuries, despite skipping the previous summer’s Gold Cup in an effort to arrive at the tournament in peak fitness.
U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino appeared to reference that decision when talking with reporters this week about habits that need to be changed within the program.
“It was difficult to make the roster for the Gold Cup one year before because the mindset was different,” Pochettino said Monday. “You say, ‘If I play, I have not holidays. I cannot arrive fresh for the World Cup.’ … You know now that is bull—-.”
