In the summer, Massimiliano Allegri had a clear idea for the new Milan: Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic as the attacking focal point. The friendlies had strengthened this belief, showing a creative American playing behind and a devastating Portuguese player in open space. The official matches, however, have told a different story, marked more by absences than by results.
Injuries and missed chances
The pair’s season got off to an uphill start. Leão stopped soon after scoring against Bari in the Coppa Italia, forced into a layoff of more than a month. Having returned just before the October break, it was then Pulisic who ended up sidelined with the national team. Their first real start together came only on November 23 in the derby against Inter, with the American’s goal coming from a counterattack initiated by the number 10 himself. An isolated flash: the only other time they started together was the 1–1 against Genoa on January 8, amid disallowed goals and decisive strikes. In between, a long series of minor physical issues prevented the Leão-Pulisic duo from having any continuity, as relayed via Milan News today.
Alternative solutions and hierarchy
When they have been on the field, Leão and Pulisic have almost always made an impact. Allegri’s problem is that he has almost never had them together, which is quite different. In the meantime, Nkunku and Füllkrug have stepped up, but the coach keeps looking to the original pairing. Ahead of Pisa, Leão is aiming to return despite this initial pubaglia, while Pulisic is managing a case of bursitis without pushing it. The pecking order remains fluid, but one figure stands out: playing as a central striker, Leão has improved his numbers, with a goal and an assist every 118 minutes. The idea of the two together remains alive. The work, however, is still in progress.
