Why isn't Christian Pulisic playing for AC Milan against Crvena zvezda?

With three wins and two defeats from their opening five games, AC Milan still have work to do if they are to progress to the knockout round of the Champions League. The Rossoneri will be the favourites as they take on Crvena zvezda at San Siro on Wednesday but will be without a key player.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic has blossomed into one of Milan’s most important players but he has been ruled out of the midweek game. Pulisic was substituted during last week’s Serie A loss to Atalanta and was later diagnosed with a low-grade right calf muscle tear.

In his absence, AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca may well turn to Ruben Loftus-Cheek to replace him.

Christian Pulisic’s AC Milan return date

A definitive timeframe for his return has not yet been released but Pulisic looks set to spend the remainder of 2024 on the sidelines. This injury comes as AC Milan head into a crucial phase of the season with important domestic fixtures and the final game of the UCL league phase on the horizon.

As well as the visit of Crvena zvezda, Pulisic looks set to miss an important clash against Roma on December 29. He faces a race against time to return for the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final against Juventus on January 3.

A victory against Crvena zvezda would set Milan up well in Europe with two winnable games against Girona (home) and Dinamo Zagreb (away) to follow. Nevertheless, the AC Milan boss is not taking anything for granted ahead of Wednesday’s game.

“We’ll be up against a physical side. They’re good on the counter and have quick attackers,” Fonseca said of Crvena zvezda. “For us, it’ll be a difficult and important match that we have to win. I feel protected by the Club, whose support I’ve always felt.”

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