Christian Pulisic, the standout star from the USMNT, was placed on the AC Milan bench for their recent fixture against Lecce. This decision stemmed from the player`s ongoing struggle with a recurring fitness issue.
The Serie A match between AC Milan and Lecce was played at the iconic Stadio Via del Mare.
Comprehensive coverage of this particular game, along with the simultaneous clash between Cremonese and Sassuolo, was provided.
Understanding Pulisic`s Absence from Milan`s Starting XI Against Lecce
The American winger had previously been part of Milan`s starting eleven for their opening match of the campaign, which resulted in an unexpected 2-1 home defeat against Cremonese at San Siro.
He was originally anticipated to start in the current match as well. However, Pulisic has been contending with an ankle problem for a significant portion of the summer period.
This ankle issue unfortunately re-emerged in the days leading up to the game. Consequently, the team`s coach made the strategic decision to hold him back and start him from the substitutes` bench.
As a direct result of this, Alexis Saelemaekers was chosen to play alongside Santiago Gimenez within Milan`s 3-5-2 tactical setup. It`s also worth noting that Rafael Leao had been sidelined earlier in the week, having sustained an injury during Milan`s 2-0 Coppa Italia victory over Bari.