GdS: Big games, big goals – Pulisic’s talismanic tendencies increase further at Milan | OneFootball

Christian Pulisic illuminated the derby between AC Milan and Inter on Sunday night with his early goal, and it was his second in consecutive big games.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, the level of frustration Milan were experiencing before the derby was perfectly represented by Pulisic’s celebration after the first goal as he ran over towards the corner flag, shushing the Inter fans and letting off some angry shouts.

It wasn’t just a goal in the derby: it was a goal after six derbies lost in a row, a bad defeat against Liverpool and with a coach whose job was on the line. Pulisic didn’t end up getting the winner – that honour went to Matteo Gabbia – but he showed once again why he is a leader.

The paper adds that Pulisic has been amazing for a year straight, without interruptions. In 2023-24, the longest period in which he didn’t score a goal or get an assist was only five games, between mid-January and mid-February.

It is an impressive level of consistency that surpassed his peaks at Chelsea and even at Borussia Dortmund. In his first season at Milan he scored 15 goals (he hit 11 with the Blues four years earlier, his best tally), to which 11 assists were added. He contributed to 26 percent of the team’s goals for the season.

Given the transfer fee it was a gamble won by the Rossoneri management, because Christian improves month after month. He is self-confident, it is evident from the plays he makes, but also confident in his tactical intelligence that leads him to understand the best decisions to make in movement and finishing.

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The goal in the derby was emblematic. First he stole the ball from Mkhitaryan, then he ran away from Calhanoglu, then he avoided Acerbi’s attempted block and finally he left Pavard behind him. It all seemed easy, obviously it wasn’t at all. ‘Like a hot knife through butter’ is how Milan described it on their social media.

With that derby goal, Pulisic has already reached four goals and two assists in six games this season: no player in Serie A has been involved in more goals since the start of last season: 31 (19 goals and 12 assists), equal with Lautaro (27+4). From the beginning of March onwards he has scored eight goals in the league, more than anyone else in the period.