GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Pulisic leading Milan to comeback win
Someone should make a documentary about Christian Pulisic. His season has been a real cinematic event, the American achieving epic highs and simply disappointing lows over the course of the campaign for an infuriating Milan team.
Then again, that is kind of Pulisic's thing, and an immense talent who never quite seems to be able to piece a full 50-game stretch together (then again, there are very few who can.) Either way, he stuck to the narrative with aplomb this weekend, playing a starring role – alongside Mexico's Santi Gimenez – to lead Milan to an important win over Bologna ahead of the Coppa Italian final midweek.
And that's pretty much where the positive vibes ended for Americans abroad in Europe over the weekend. Weston McKennie was effective, but Tim Weah pulled off a remarkable disappearing act as Juventus threw away yet another lead to make their Champions League qualification efforts far more complicated than they should be (seriously, this club's penchant for getting it wrong should be studied.)
Haji Wright tried to do the business for Coventry in their promotion push, but he picked an inopportune day for a forgettable showing as the Sky Blues got it all wrong in the first leg of their playoff semifinal tie. Meanwhile, Antonee Robinson was left out of the Fulham squad with no apparent explanation, not featuring as the Cottagers saw their unlikely European dreams fall flat against middling Everton.
GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.
GettyChristian Pulisic drags Milan back into European contention
Not long ago, it was all doom and gloom in Milan. Still reeling from the nightmarish tenure of Paolo Fonseca, the Italian giants looked far removed from contention for European football. Nothing about the season was going well.
Sergio Conceicao's tenure has been something of a mixed bag. The Super Cup win over Inter offered hope, but subsequent inconsistencies have shown that he might not be the man long term. Still, they have a Coppa Italia final to look forward to next week, and a performance like Friday's showed just how good this team can be on their day.
Milan were markedly worse for the first half, but came alive in the second. And Christian Pulisic was the man who offered the spark. His industry created the first, a direct dart and layoff to the path of CONCACAF rival Santi Gimenez, who made the finish look easy. He scored the eventual winner soon after, reacting first to a loose ball and sending the Bologna keeper the long way.
It was, admittedly, an odd sort of showing from Pulisic. For all of his running and impact at the right moments, he was also anonymous for long stretches. But that's the way the American functions for Milan. He rarely dominates, but always seems to make a mark on the game.
Pulisic – who indeed does have an eponymous docuseries on Paramount+ – managed to set a career best for goal contributions in a season. With 11 goals and nine assists in 2024-25 and 12 goals and eight assists this campaign, he is the only USMNT player in the last 20 years to record 20 goal contributions in multiple seasons in a top-five European league.
Milan are three points off qualification for European football after a dismal campaign. Another couple of sneakily big showings and Pulisic could be playing at a level befitting of his talents next year.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMcKennie's assist wasted, Juve squander top-four chances
It wouldn't be 2024-25 Juventus if there wasn't a twist to what should have been a comfortable result. This really should have been the day that Juve secured Champions League football, one remembered for a clever Weston McKennie cross, lifted effortlessly onto the head of Randal Kolo Muani – a truly lovely moment of quality to decide a cagey match.
But Juve have a real habit of getting in their own way, and were experts in self destruction Saturday. First, it was Pierre Kalulu, who made the baffling decision to grab the face of Taty Castellanos after 57 minutes. The Lazio forward sold it wonderfully, and the Juve center back was sent off.
After that, it was one way traffic, and Lazio got their moment – a scramble in the box leading to a 97th-minute equalizer. Some would call it heartbreak, but any emotional impact here was perhaps lacking given its entire predictability.
Soccer is a team sport, and everyone has varying degrees of culpability here. But McKennie is one of the few Juve players who could leave the pitch with his head held high. As well as the clever assist he put in a fine defensive shift, and Juve were far more dangerous down his side. Then again, that's been the story of his season.
McKennie has contributed all over without being particularly astounding anywhere. Perhaps that's the player he is – but there's a nagging sense that he could be something more. Either way, Juve are not level on points with Lazio – albeit with a comfortable lead on goal difference. They will need to win their last two to guarantee Champions League football. If their form is anything to go by, such an achievement would be a significant surprise.
Getty Images SportHaji Wright can't lift the Sky Blues
Coventry have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround under Frank Lampard. They were fading into irrelevance when the former Chelsea manager took over in November, and there was admittedly little optimism that he could be the man to turn things around. But he silenced his critics in style.
Coventry battled their way up the Championship table, and were good value for their playoff spot. Central to his turnaround has been the form of Haji Wright who, when fit, has been converted from a wide forward into a central striker agreeably. Admittedly, 12 goals in 21 starts isn't a barnstorming figure, but he is a reliable provider for the Sky Blues, who also find the net at a reliable clip around him. The American just has to chip in.
Unfortunately, he picked one of the worst games to come up short. Coventry hosted Sunderland in the first leg of their Championship playoff semifinal, and could really have done with at least a tie to keep their promotion hopes alive. It should have been a good game.
Both sides play good soccer, and have attacking options aplenty. Instead, it shrank and shriveled into an ugly slog. Wright wasn't part of the problem, but he certainly didn't offer any solutions. He looks lost when the spaces get smaller and the pitch gets clogged. He is, remember, a left winger, who doesn't have the natural instincts of a striker. This is not a forward to cross the ball to, and hope something will happen.
That's the pattern Coventry settled into, and Wright ended the game with just 24 touches – the least of any outfield player in the match. The home side didn't help themselves at the other end, either, a defensive error handing Eliezer Mayenda an easy finish, and Sunderland a 21 win heading into the second leg.
AFPWhere is Antonee Robinson?
Antonee Robinson has probably been the most effective full-back in the Premier League this season. He is excellent going both ways, a scrappy defender and increasingly accurate crosser. That he has tallied 10 assists in the Premier League is by no means an accident. We are talking about a very good footballer here.
He is also the model of consistency, having started 34 of a possible 36 games this season. But he was missing from the squad entirely Saturday as Fulham lost to Everton – a 3-1 defeat that saw their European hopes fade for good. It would have been a deserved moment for the American to get his moment on a bigger stage for the Cottagers.
He may yet move to a Champions League team – Liverpool have been linked. Still, doing it for his own might have made a nice story. It seems it was not meant to be.