Milan started strong against Atalanta, pressing the Atalanta team with continuous movement from the attackers and vertical long balls. With Christian Pulisic's early exit, however, the attacking momentum came to a halt.
Without the USMNT star on the field, the Rossoneri struggled to find anyone capable of consistently breaking free from Atalanta's relentless one-on-one marking.
The second half saw goalkeeper Mike Maignan playing a significant role, often touching the ball—not because of tactical choices, but because he was the only Rossoneri player left unmarked by Gasperini's side. It was a blow too heavy for Paulo Fonseca’s team to handle.
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Pulisic's injury sounds an alarm for Fonseca's team. The winger is expected to be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks due to a low-grade injury to the soleus muscle in his right calf. In his absence, it’s up to Fonseca to find alternative solutions to keep the team functioning. But there’s a deeper issue here—Milan cannot collapse and lose its edge just because one key player is missing.
To be fair, Fonseca's approach has helped reduce the number of injuries overall, but this squad remains vulnerable to emergencies. The team’s depth is a glaring problem. Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders are overworked, rarely leaving the pitch due to a lack of replacements. It would only take a small mishap to throw the entire team into crisis mode.
This is where the management must step in. Reinforcements are urgently needed, even in the January transfer window. The squad remains too thin, a concern voiced since late August. Ismaël Bennacer's return may help, assuming he regains top form, but that alone won't suffice.
Pulisic is undoubtedly one of the Rossoneri's stars, but the team cannot afford to depend so heavily on a single player, no matter how crucial he is. Investments are needed to provide Fonseca with a more balanced and resilient squad.
Source: Pianeta Milan
