They have played just 78 minutes together. We are talking about Diego Moreira and Christian Pulisic, the heavy artillery that Ruben Amorim appears ready to deploy together from the start for the first time with his Milan side when the league resumes tomorrow at 6 p.m., away to Sassuolo. Finally, one might say.
So far, the two have shared the pitch for one half at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio, when they contributed to the comeback with two goals from the Belgian and an assist from the American, and for 33 minutes at San Siro against Benfica, although this time they were unable to pull off another miracle and turn the match around.
Moreia set for key role after Saelemaekers injury...
Belgian winger Moreira comes into the match having scored in three consecutive Serie A games, all after coming off the bench. So far, Amorim has started him on just one occasion, against Juventus on September 6, but deployed him as a right wing-back, covering the entire flank. Against Sassuolo, however, following Saelemaekers’ serious injury, the former Strasbourg player is expected to operate as an advanced left winger in a 4-2-3-1 formation. That is the position he occupied when he came on against Lecce and scored his third goal in Italy, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Moreira also maintained his impressive standards with Belgium during the international break and has returned to Milanello full of energy. After the match against Lecce, he played down his role as a luxury substitute.
"Why didn't I start? That's not my decision. Sometimes you find yourself on the bench, then I came on and scored. I'm ready to play in any match, but it's the coach who has to decide. That's how things are for now: I keep working, and I'm ready to play in any game."
For his part, Amorim had previously suggested that starting Moreira alongside Chukwueze would pose a risk to the team's tactical balance, meaning that keeping the Belgian on the bench, ready to make an impact, was almost a necessity when it came to changing games as they unfolded.
However, Saelemaekers' injury will force the Portuguese coach into a swift change of approach if, as appears likely, he sticks with the tactical setup used against Lecce, featuring a back four.
Then, there's AC Milan's Pulisic:
The first few weeks under Amorim have also been complicated for Pulisic. Captain America missed the entire preseason preparations because of the injury he sustained in the World Cup quarter-final against Moreira's Belgium.
Chris spent the opening matches watching his teammates from the sidelines, but when things took a turn for the worse against Lazio, he immediately made his mark.
In the most recent match against Lecce, Pulisic regained his place in the starting lineup and, at the same time, ended a 266-day goal drought in a Milan shirt.
In agreement with Milan and the US Soccer Federation, the American opted to miss the United States national team's matches during this international break to focus on making a full physical recovery.
As a result, Amorim could line up in Reggio Emilia with an ultra-attacking trio behind Gonçalo Ramos: Chukwueze on the right, Pulisic through the middle and Moreira on the left.
Three attacking threats who could help the Portuguese centre-forward rediscover his goalscoring touch at Milan, following his three consecutive goals for the Portugal national team.
