Christian Pulisic is expected to return to the Milan squad against Juventus as he attempts to rediscover his form after a difficult 2024 and an ankle injury that disrupted his preparations for the new season.
The United States forward has not played at San Siro for 11 months. His last appearance there against Juventus ended in frustration after he missed a penalty that might have changed the result. With both sides later reflecting on an underwhelming campaign, that match came to represent the disappointment of the season as a whole.
Pulisic has endured an increasingly challenging period since then. He has failed to score for Milan in 2024 and was unable to make the expected impact at the highly anticipated home World Cup, leaving him short of the level many had anticipated.
His difficulties have also been compounded by injuries. An ankle problem kept him out for the whole of July and meant he missed Milan’s pre-season preparations. He eventually returned to Milanello on 2 August, initially working on his own before being gradually reintegrated into full team training.
Despite making the squad for Milan’s opening two league matches against Torino and Venezia, Pulisic did not feature in either game. He watched both matches from the bench without being given any playing time.
The upcoming meeting with Juventus could therefore provide the 2024-born? No, must not add. We can say “an opportunity”. Need 400 words. Need be careful no hallucination.
Amorim has said Pulisic’s workload will be managed carefully as he continues to rebuild his fitness. The manager has also underlined the importance of the American’s technical quality and ability to deliver passes across a range of distances.
That makes a second-half appearance against Juventus a possibility, although Pulisic is not yet considered ready to play the full 90 minutes. Another factor is the form of Sissoko, who impressed after scoring against Torino in the opening round and could retain his place in the side.
For Pulisic, the fixture carries significance beyond simply returning to the pitch. It offers him a chance to address the memory of the missed penalty against Juventus and begin moving beyond a frustrating start to the year.
A gradual return may be the most likely route, with a substitute appearance potentially allowing him to rebuild confidence without being asked to carry the full physical demands of a match. Should he take that opportunity, the trip to Turin could mark the point at which his season finally begins.
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport said Pulisic’s return to San Siro had been accompanied by a lingering sense of frustration, given the events of his previous meeting with Juventus and the months that followed.
Milan’s supporters will now wait to see whether the forward can turn that disappointment into a positive response. After injury, limited training and two unused substitute appearances, the Juventus test may offer Pulisic his first chance to change the narrative surrounding his campaign.
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