As Milan gears up for its final pre-season tests, the club has revealed its squad list for friendlies against Leeds United and Chelsea, both set to take place over the weekend. These matches are particularly significant as they may mark the debut appearances of Luka Modric and Santiago Gimenez in Milan’s colors, following their recent arrivals.
The anticipation surrounding these games is heightened by uncertainty over Christian Pulisic, whose fitness has been the subject of intense speculation. The American winger has been sidelined since picking up an ankle injury during a pre-season match against Liverpool, casting doubts on his availability for the upcoming fixtures.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting any news about Pulisic, and Milan’s official squad announcement has only fueled further debate. Many supporters had hoped for his return, especially with the competitive season looming. However, their hopes were dashed when Pulisic’s name was omitted from the list.
The weekend’s games, set in Dublin and London, provide head coach Massimiliano Allegri with a final opportunity to refine his tactical approach. Recent results have shown Milan’s unpredictability, with victories and defeats against top Premier League sides such as Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as a commanding win over Perth Glory in Australia.
Leeds United, freshly promoted to the Premier League under Daniel Farke, enter the contest buoyed by their unbeaten pre-season. The team, having just won the Championship, is eager to test itself against Milan, a club with a storied European pedigree. The match at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium is expected to be a stern examination for both sides.
Chelsea, now managed by Enzo Maresca, arrives in strong form after securing the Europa Conference League and the revamped Club World Cup. Their recent 3-0 victory over PSG has only increased confidence within the squad, making Sunday’s clash with Milan a compelling encounter for neutral fans.
With two games scheduled in less than 48 hours, Allegri intends to rotate his squad extensively. Several young players from Milan Futuro have been called up to ensure key starters are not overworked. Modric, who joined up with the team earlier this week, and Gimenez are both likely to see limited minutes as they build match fitness.
The case of Christian Pulisic has finally been clarified, though not to the satisfaction of Milan supporters. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, “Pulisic is still not fully fit and is still suffering from discomfort in the ankle he sustained in the friendly against Liverpool in Hong Kong, which caused him to miss the Perth game.” According to MilanNews, his recovery is proceeding according to plan, with no fears of long-term damage.
Despite these reassurances, Pulisic will not feature in the friendlies against Leeds and Chelsea, a disappointment for fans hoping for his return before the season opener. In his absence, Allegri will rely on attacking talents such as Rafael Leao, Noah Okafor, and Santiago Gimenez to spearhead Milan’s offense.
Optimism remains that Pulisic will recover in time for next week’s Coppa Italia match against Bari. Until then, supporters will be watching closely as Milan’s pre-season preparations reach their critical conclusion.
