Why Pulisic doesn’t start for Milan against Sassuolo | OneFootball

Christian Pulisic starts on the bench for Milan in an away game at Sassuolo as coach Stefano Pioli wants to rest the American star ahead of next week’s game against Roma.

Samuel Chukwueze replaces Pulisic in Milan’s line-up for an away game against Sassuolo on Sunday.

Pulisic, a former Chelsea winger, is not injured or suspended, but Pioli has decided to rest him ahead of next week’s Europa League quarter-final decider against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Milan suffered a 1-0 home loss in the first leg against the Giallorossi this past Thursday and Pioli wants a fully refreshed Pulisic in Rome next week.

There are more rotations for the Rossoneri in Reggio Emilia as Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori also start on the bench, while Mike Maignan has suffered a slight muscle injury and is replaced by Marco Sportiello in goal.

Pioli seems to have prioritised the upcoming European match as his Milan side sit 2nd in the Serie A table and are pretty much certain to secure a top-four finish, being 13 points above 5th-placed Roma.