It is not because of Saelemaekers’ injury, nor because of the need to manage the squad’s resources: Diego Moreira has earned his place on merit and intends to hold on to it throughout this run of closely spaced fixtures.
As the summer expenditure had suggested (Moreira arrived from Strasbourg for €50 million) Diego offers double value because he can cover at least two positions. That was evident against Sassuolo, when he was among the few players to receive a positive assessment in the owner’s ratings: either as a left-footed attacking midfielder alongside Pulisic, supporting the centre-forward, or as a wing-back covering the entire flank, with defensive tracking-back duties.
He passed every test at full speed, displaying his trademark agility. At 22, his pace, dynamism and willingness to work hard do not come at the expense of composure: indeed, he produced several promising attacking moves, even while the rest of the team struggled to find space.
Tomorrow, he will retain his place for the second European match of the season, marking his first international start in a Milan shirt after coming on for the final half-hour against Benfica. With Strasbourg, he made eleven appearances in the Conference League, including both the main competition and qualifying rounds, starting five of them. His international experience also includes seven appearances for Belgium, with starts in each of his last three Nations League matches.
Top scorer
On the left, Moreira has overtaken everyone: Saelemaekers, even before his injury. The same trend was unfolding at international level, where Diego has now established himself as a regular starter, while Alexis was left out of the latest squad, as pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
He has also moved ahead of Cisse, the revelation of the early season, Hutchinson, as well as Estupinan and Bartesaghi, if the competition for a place concerns the wide midfield position rather than the role of attacking creator.
Speaking of which, Diego is also Milan’s joint-top scorer: with his latest goal against Sassuolo, Rabiot drew level with him on three goals, the highest total among the Rossoneri.
But while Adrien needed 396 minutes to complete his personal hat-trick of goals, Moreira required just 217 minutes: a scoring rate of one goal every 72 minutes, compared with one every 132 minutes for Rabiot.
On the international stage, whether for club or country, Moreira has yet to score. This would be an ideal opportunity. However, an assist or a cross for Ramos to head home would also be welcome, particularly given Amorim’s complaints about the lack of such deliveries.
AC Milan's indispensable star Christian Pulisic:
Moreira, then, will be involved because Amorim’s philosophy remains to reward merit and current form first, and only afterwards consider the demands of upcoming fixtures.
The coach will travel to Austria with his strongest available players, and Pulisic simply cannot be left out.
Captain America is another player to have received Cardinale’s approval, and their shared American nationality has nothing to do with it.
Pulisic has already demonstrated on the pitch that he is indispensable. It took him just two matches (Milan’s last two league fixtures, against Lecce before the international break and Sassuolo after it) to prove his importance.
In between, unlike usual, Chris stayed behind to train at Milanello, having been left out of the US national team precisely because of the physical problems that had hampered him at the start of the season.
Pulisic had remained on the bench throughout the first three league matches. He appeared in the second half against Lazio and played a decisive role (alongside Moreira, as it happens) in Milan’s comeback from a two-goal deficit.
Making his first start of the season against Lecce, Chris immediately found the net. In Reggio Emilia, he was lively and proactive, even though he was unable to score again.
His last European goal, meanwhile, came against Dinamo Zagreb in January 2025.
His position remains unchanged: right-sided attacking midfielder, with considerable freedom to drift inside, following the spaces and the ball wherever he considers most effective. Creativity cannot be constrained.
The same principle applies to him as to Moreira: a player can make the difference by scoring, but also by setting up a teammate to find the net, perhaps Ramos.
The selection decisions
Ahead of the trip to Austria, there are two certainties: Pulisic and Moreira, plus nine others.
Amorim will make his decisions after today's final training session and the flight to Salzburg.
The coach enjoys the complete confidence and full support of Cardinale and the entire club. The ownership is committed to providing him with the backing necessary to build a winning project, recognising that this requires time and a shared sense of purpose.
That confidence has been reaffirmed on the eve of a European match that Milan must win at all costs, both for their position in the standings and for their reputation, following the disheartening defeat against Benfica.
