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Christian Pulisic was involved in both AC Milan goals against Bologna on Monday night, with Samuel Chukwueze replacing the USMNT superstar when the game was effectively over as a contest.
As knee-jerk reactions go, Christian Pulisic’s AC Milan debut against Bologna on Monday night was bad news for another summer arrival Samuel Chukwueze.
The USMNT star’s pre-assist unlocked the Rossoblu defence for Olivier Giroud’s opening goal, and Pulisic combined well with his former Chelsea teammate for arguably the finest goal of the Serie A weekend (Antonio Candreva would undoubtedly dispute this after his screamer against Roma on Sunday).
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21:48 - 21.08.2023
Chukwueze: Super Eagles winger makes Serie A debut as captain America inspires AC Milan
Nigeria Super Eagles Samuel Chukwueze enjoyed a winning start to his Serie A adventure alongside Noah Okafor and AC Milan.
Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze have headlined Milan’s recruitment drive
Back for the season after last year’s underwhelming title defence, Stefano Pioli has not hidden the Rossoneri’s ambition to improve on a failed league campaign that saw the 19-time Serie A champions end 20 points behind Napoli.
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11:42 - 30.07.2023
ANALYSIS Osimhen's Napoli, Mourinho's Roma and the Milanistas: How are Serie A's big guns dealing with the transfer market?
Jose Mourinho has had to make do with bargain deals in the summer window while Napoli have been quiet, and both Milan clubs have made a splash. How are Roma and the challenging Serie A contingent looking with September 1 a month away?
Hurt by the worst title defence since Juventus lost their stranglehold in Italy’s top division, the Milan club have not held back in the summer, acquiring six players for €110 million, with Luka Romero and Marco Sportiello arriving on free transfers and Platense defender Marco Pellegrino set to become the club’s ninth signing.
Chukwueze made his Milan debut on Monday night, but it goes without saying that the erstwhile Villarreal man was outshone by Pulisic, who has taken to life under Pioli like a duck to water.
Pulisic’s eye-catching Milan debut
A side comprising three debutants — Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders — could have fallen behind in the opening 30 seconds only to be spared by the woodwork after Charalampos Lykogiannis’ cracking effort from around 30 yards struck the frame.
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By the 11th minute, Pulisic was involved in Milan’s first. By the 21st minute, the American shone brightly to score brilliantly after a give-and-go with Giroud. Playing on the right flank, with Rafael Leao on the opposite wing, the versatile debutant thrived.
According to FBref, no player on the away team outdid the USMNT star’s five shot-creating actions and two goal-creating actions. The former was outshone by only Bologna’s Dan Ndoye (seven shot-creating actions), who notably got 90 minutes of match action to Pulisic’s 72.
Replaced by Chukwueze with 18 minutes remaining, you wonder what must have gone through the Nigerian’s head. Admittedly, it is just the opening round of games in the 2023-24 season, yet the Super Eagle seems to be playing catch-up in Milanello.
Is Chukwueze behind Pulisic in the pecking order?
The wide attacker’s signing from Villarreal was confirmed on July 27, a fortnight after Pulisic moved from Chelsea. With competition for places high at Milan this season, the American had the head start on Chukwueze, a fact stated by Pioli before Monday’s encounter.
“We are playing those who are most ready, who have been working together since July,” the Milan head coach asserted before facing Thiago Motta’s men.
“Chukwueze, Okafor and Musah only arrived two weeks ago, but I don’t think it will take them long to be at the same level as their teammates.”
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While the concluding part of Pioli’s remarks could be music to Chukwueze’s ears, the Milan boss’ tactical alteration in the off-season does not bode well.
Why Pioli’s tactical tweak should worry Chukwueze
Barring a dalliance with a back three when performances and results dipped at the start of 2023, the 57-year-old has favoured a 4-2-3-1 as Rossoneri boss since joining in October 2019.
Results with the 4-3-3 were mixed before a tactical alteration in February 2020 brought consistency. Milan went the final 12 Serie A games post-lockdown unbeaten.
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Pioli utilised a 4-2-3-1 for every game in the 2020-21 campaign and the Scudetto-winning season the following year before altering mid-way through 2022-23. The Milan trainer unsurprisingly returned to his tried and tested formation when results stabilised, but the change in the pre-season does Chukwueze no favours.
The switch to a 4-3-3 adds a body to the Milan midfield while removing one from the trio behind the central striker.
While Pulisic’s versatility means he could be utilised on the right flank or deputise on the left for Leao, the Nigeria international made his name as a right-sided forward at Villarreal and the Super Eagles, possibly posing a game-time challenge if Pioli continues down this path for the season.
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16:46 - 27.07.2023
Samuel Chukwueze: Super Eagles winger could help AC Milan lose Leao dependency
For a long time, AC Milan have been limited by their seeming over-reliance on Rafael Leao. Samuel Chukwueze helps to shed that ‘one-man team’ tag.
In Pioli’s favoured 4-2-3-1, the feeling was that the three behind Giroud or Noah Okafor would be Leao, Pulisic and Chukwueze. In a 4-3-3, the tussle for a starting berth is doubly challenging for the Nigerian.
Ismael Bennacer’s long-term knee injury means the manager is unlikely to return to a 4-2-3-1 anytime soon, with his rationale explained before Monday’s opening-day triumph.
“Bennacer continues the rehab. I tried Rade Krunic and Yacine Adli as deep-lying playmakers, and they’ve done well,” argued the Rossoneri boss.
“Reijnders could play there too, but he’d need to be more defensive and limit his late runs. Right now, Krunic prefers playing as a deep-lying playmaker. He is a smart player, and his position allows Loftus-Cheek and Reijnders to have more freedom.”
A victory on day one was pleasing for anyone of a Milan persuasion, especially in a round where all but two of last season’s top eight teams claimed maximum points.
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The fact that Leao was uninvolved in either goal was extra pleasurable for a side that have previously leaned heavily on the Portugal international.
The formation change ostensibly does not bode well for Chukwueze, as the forward is already playing catch-up to Pulisic.
Is the Nigerian fighting a losing battle in Milan? Watch this space.
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