Milan waited until the very last moment to clinch their first win of this Champions League season with a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain, but that victory could potentially prove costly as winger Christian Pulisic left the game with an injury . He was diagnosed with a cramp, but he also missed the game against Udinese at the weekend with a hamstring injury, so it could end up being more than a precautionary withdrawal.
If that’s the case, it’s crucial not only for Stefano Pioli, whose Milan team is in the middle of the Scudetto race in Italy, but also for the U.S. men’s national team, which faces Trinidad and Tobago in the Nations League A trip to the Copa America is at stake.
If Pulisic misses time, here’s what it means
The influence of Milan
Always a shifty player at his clubs, Pulisic arrived at Milan like a man on fire, scoring four goals in his first six appearances for the club. Even though he has cooled down, he is perfectly fine scoring two goals and assisting two more, while his pressing ability helps Milan to overwhelm their opponents and get back on the counterattack where they thrive. His main replacement is Samuel Chuckwueze, who is also a new signing from Villarreal but is also hoping to score his first goal for Milan. Add to that the lack of rotation ability when Chuckwueze is thrown into the starting lineup, and that gives Pioli a lot to think about. With Lecce playing after the international break the weekend before the game against Fiorentina, it could be a minor loss depending on the severity of Pulisic’s injury.
The USMNT Impact
This is where things get worrying. Tyler Adams is already out until February. Tim Weah is also injured after sustaining a hamstring injury. While there is a possibility that Weah could be fit for the Nations League given he sustained an injury in October, it is a fitness race that he may not win. If Weah and Pulisic are unavailable, Berhalter, like his two regular players, will have to forego a lot of experience.
Yunus Musah has experience in the role of Tyler Adam, but the only time neither Weah nor Pulisic feature for the national team is during the Gold Cup. Brenden Aaronson and Gio Reyna would be the likely starters on the wings if both were to miss out, but that doesn’t inspire confidence given Reyna’s lack of minutes at Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin’s current form.
The Reyna Impact
Without Pulisic, Reyna immediately becomes the national team’s most important player, which is a cause for concern. He was strong against Germany and Ghana, but only played 90 minutes in total. Since Reyna did not play any more minutes for Dortmund after the international break, it is unclear how fit Reyna is to play the required minutes against Trinidad. With depth it’s okay for him to play a half and sub, but without depth it becomes more difficult.
Finding an understanding with Folarin Balogun on how to link up with Reyna from midfield could also be different if Reyna plays on the wings instead of Weah. Balance is crucial, and as the USMNT starts to build chemistry, moves like this could prevent them from potentially losing a spot in the Copa America if Berhlater doesn’t get it right.