Pulisic Reflects on 'Difficult 2026' as Saelemaekers Praises Team Spirit

Christian Pulisic admitted he had a ‘very difficult’ 2026 for AC Milan and the US Men’s National Team, but managed to break his goal drought after nine months. Following a series of disappointing results, including a 2-0 Europa League defeat to Benfica and two Serie A draws against Juventus and Lazio, Pulisic’s team sought redemption in their match against US Lecce.

On September 20, 2026, AC Milan dominated possession to secure a convincing 3-0 victory at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, with goals from Pulisic, Adrien Rabiot, and Diego Moreira. It marked Pulisic’s first goal in a competitive match since December 28, 2025, against Hellas Verona, coming after 39 shots on target in Serie A without finding the net.

During the match, Pulisic became the only player who exchanged passes with every single one of his teammates. He humorously remarked on DAZN Italia, “That statistic means I ran too much and now I feel very tired. It’s fine, though, we played really well as a team. It was a pleasure to work this hard with my teammates.” Despite his personal struggles in 2026, which included a lack of scoring and injury challenges, Pulisic expressed relief at finally scoring again: “It was very difficult for me, but also for the team. I’m glad I scored a goal, but now we’ve just got to keep winning.”

Alexis Saelemaekers, who did not score but played a significant role in the match, noted their commitment and teamwork. He stated, “It was quite a difficult week for us, but the fans were always right behind us, so we are happy to get the three points for them today. The coach decides where he wants us to play, and the important thing is the team. We all did really well today and also enjoyed ourselves on the pitch. I think those who watch us enjoyed themselves too.”

Milan’s manager Ruben Amorim indicated that he had granted the players “more freedom” for this match, enhancing their tactical flexibility. Saelemaekers acknowledged this adjustment, saying, “I think we are players who speak the same football language, we understand each other with just a glance. The coach is trying to transmit his mentality, and everyone who came off the bench gave their contribution too, including Moreira with a great goal. This proves there is something really special in this group.”