Despite being named among the substitutes in each of Milan’s opening three Serie A matches, Pulisic has watched every minute from the bench as the new coach searches for the right balance in attack. Christian Pulisic’s frustration at Milan is growing, while Ruben Amorim continues to face questions over why the USMNT star has yet to make his season debut. Despite being named among the substitutes in each of Milan’s opening three Serie A matches, Pulisic has watched every minute from the bench as the new coach searches for the right balance in attack. The situation became even more surprising on Sunday night, when Milan faced Juventus in one of the biggest fixtures of the opening weeks. Pulisic had been expected to finally receive some playing time, but the 27-year-old once again remained an unused substitute. The American has now been called up for three consecutive Serie A matches without making a single appearance, despite returning to group training in August. Milan began the campaign with wins over Torino and Venezia before drawing 1-1 with Juventus, but the American has remained on the sidelines throughout. His absence has become increasingly noticeable because Milan still needs greater quality in the final third. Alphadjo Cisse has stepped into the role instead and has made an immediate impression, scoring against Torino and Juventus while quickly becoming one of Amorim’s preferred attacking options. The 19-year-old’s emergence has certainly complicated Pulisic’s route back into the starting lineup. Cisse has already scored twice in three matches, including Milan’s opener against Juventus, making it increasingly difficult for Amorim to justify changing a combination that is producing results. Ruben Amorim explains why Pulisic is still waiting The explanation finally came after the Juventus draw, when Amorim was asked directly about Pulisic’s continued absence. The Portuguese coach made it clear that there is a specific reason behind the decision, although he also suggested that Cisse’s current form is playing a role. “Pulisic is back from injury, I’m managing him. For now, Alpha [Cisse] is taking his place,” Amorim said in his post-match press conference, as relayed by MilanNews. Amorim expanded on his approach when discussing his substitutions and the condition of several players: “We’re still managing the minutes of some players and trying to win the match. Sometimes it’s not just the technical and tactical aspects, it’s also the physical aspect.” Christian Pulisic’s minutes played for Milan The injury that has complicated Pulisic’s return Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and microfracture in his right tibia and fibula during the United States’ World Cup campaign, an injury that forced him to miss a significant portion of Milan’s preseason preparations. He returned to group training on August 21, but that did not immediately convince the coaching staff that he was ready for competitive action. The timing of his comeback also explains some of Milan’s caution. Pulisic had missed the club’s summer tour and only returned to full training shortly before the start of the Serie A season, leaving Amorim with a decision over whether to introduce him gradually or risk pushing him back too quickly. Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States reacts There is also a broader injury history behind the caution. Pulisic has dealt with several physical problems over the past year, including an ankle sprain, hamstring injury, bursitis and a gluteal issue, meaning the club has little incentive to rush one of its most important attacking players back onto the field. While Pulisic’s fitness remains the main factor, Cisse’s performances have given Amorim another reason to stay patient. The teenager has adapted quickly to the demands of first-team soccer and has shown the kind of attacking instinct that has made him difficult to remove from the lineup.
With his assist against Valencia, Anthony Gordon has joined Lionel Messi and two Real Madrid icons in an assist record in La Liga. Anthony Gordon integrated seamlessly at FC Barcelona, locking down the left wing with explosive performances that have already seen him rewrite club record books. With his latest setup against Valencia, the English winger joined Lionel Messi and two Real Madrid legends in an exclusive assist category in La Liga history. Gordon marked his La Liga debut on Matchday 1 as a second-half substitute, requiring just 25 minutes to record two assists in a 5-0 rout of Elche. Inserting himself as a staple in manager Hansi Flick’s starting XI, he subsequently added two setups against Rayo Vallecano before laying off a pass for Fermin Lopez to score in another 5-0 victory over Valencia. Through those contributions, Gordon became just the second player in the 21st century to register five assists across the opening four matches of a La Liga campaign. The last player to achieve that standard was Messi during the 2011-12 season. The only other players in league history to record five assists through four matches featured decades ago for Real Madrid. Juan Gomez Gonzalez, universally known as Juanito, first set the benchmark during the 1980-81 season, followed by Michel Gonzalez during the 1987-88 campaign. Anthony Gordon of Barcelona shoots against Valencia. Gordon’s most productive playmaking season came during the 2023-24 campaign with Newcastle United. Across 48 total appearances in all competitions, he generated 16 assists, with 15 coming in Premier League action. Through just four La Liga appearances, Gordon has already accounted for a third of his career single-season league assist high, underscoring his immediate impact in Catalonia. The winger currently leads La Liga in assists, pacing ahead of Angel Perez, Unai Lopez, Javi Hernandez, and Mariano Diaz, who sit tied with three apiece. Gordon targeting Messi’s record? Barcelona have poured in 17 total goals through their opening four fixtures of the 2026-27 La Liga campaign, maintaining a blistering offensive pace that provides Gordon ample opportunity to build on his numbers. Sitting on five assists, he could realistically challenge the single-season league benchmark established by Messi. The record for most assists in a single La Liga campaign stands at 21, set by Messi for Barcelona during the 2019-20 season. Across all competitions that year, the Argentine legend compiled 26 total assists.
Mateus Mane continues to be linked with a move away from Wolves, and top clubs are keeping tabs on him. Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly long-term admirers of the player, and they have made direct contact with the player’s representatives and Wolves regarding a potential move, as per Football 360. Mateus Mane attracts Premier […] The post Liverpool and Manchester United make direct contact over £50m-rated teenager appeared first on CaughtOffside.
In an extract from a new book, the Danish former referee recalls sending off the England midfielder for his infamous kick on Diego SimeoneAt half-time on 30 June 1998, Kim Milton Nielsen stepped into the changing room at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne. The air reeked of wet towels. He hugged his assistants. They’d just taken charge of the best half of football they’d ever officiated.Argentina v England. World Cup round of 16. Michael Owen had terrorised Argentina with blistering runs and his breakout goal. A clever free-kick had outsmarted the English defence. Nielsen had awarded two penalties. He couldn’t wait for the second half, but he didn’t know what was coming. Continue reading...
With his latest goal for Barcelona against Valencia, Raphinha surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo and matched Lionel Messi in an iconic 21st-century La Liga benchmark. Raphinha has emerged as FC Barcelona‘s chief goalscoring threat during the opening stretch of the 2026-27 season, powering the club to the top of the table with staggering efficiency. With his latest strike in a 5-0 victory over Valencia, Raphinha surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s best four-match league start while matching Lionel Messi for an iconic 21st-century La Liga benchmark. Barcelona visited Valencia for Matchday 4 with an attacking trident featuring Anthony Gordon and Lamine Yamal on the flanks while Raphinha operated as the central striker. The Brazilian once again found his name on the scoresheet in the 50th minute with Barcelona leading 2-0, turning in an accurate cross from Fermin Lopez to redirect the ball into the back of the net. With that finish, Raphinha reached six goals across the opening four fixtures of the 2026-27 La Liga campaign, scoring in every single match thus far. He becomes just the second Barcelona player in the 21st century to accomplish the feat, joining Lionel Messi in elite company. The Barcelona legend was the first player in modern club history to score six goals through the opening four matches of a La Liga season, accomplishing the feat twice. Messi first reached six goals through four games in 2012-13 by netting three braces despite going scoreless on Matchday 3, before repeating the milestone in 2013-14 with a brace and a hat trick despite missing Matchday 2 through injury. Lionel Messi of Barcelona shoots for score in front of Adil Rami of Valencia. (Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) Operating outside the mold of a conventional central target man, Raphinha stands as the competition’s premier goalscorer. The Brazilian opened his account with a brace in a 5-0 Matchday 1 win over Elche, scored once in a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, added another brace in a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano, and extended his streak against Valencia. Barcelona sit atop the La Liga standings with a perfect 12 points from four matches, displaying lethal form in front of goal with 17 total team goals while surrendering just two at the defensive end. Cristiano Ronaldo left off the mark Cristiano Ronaldo routinely shattered goalscoring standards following his 2009 arrival at Real Madrid. However, unlike Messi and Raphinha, the Portuguese icon never matched that specific four-game scoring surge to open a La Liga season. Ronaldo’s personal best through Matchday 4 of a La Liga campaign stood at five goals, a mark he achieved across three separate seasons. He first set the standard during his 2009-10 debut campaign before replicating it in 2014-15 and 2015-16, highlighted by a five-goal masterclass against Espanyol on Matchday 3 of the latter campaign. Nevertheless, the Portuguese star produced an unprecedented scoring stretch later in that 2014-15 campaign by racking up nine goals across his first four individual league appearances. After sitting out Matchday 2 due to injury, Ronaldo hit nine goals through Matchday 5, scoring once against Cordoba, once against Atletico Madrid, three against Deportivo La Coruna, and four against Elche.
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