It was a bizarre scene this weekend during the AC Milan and Fiorentina match. Christian Pulisic, the team’s leading goal scorer and arguably their best player this season, was rejected by his teammates after Milan won not one, but two penalty opportunities!
In a video posted to social media, you can clearly see USMNT captain Christian Pulisic asking for the ball but being denied by his teammates Milan’s Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham. They both took unsuccessful spot-kicks, both saved by Fiorentina goalkeeper David De Gea. It’s also worth noting that Pulisic has never missed a penalty in any match.
In a post-match press conference, AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca expressed his frustration following a 2-1 loss to Fiorentina, particularly upset that his players changed the designated penalty taker during the match. Per Football Italia, Fonseca said, “Of course I am upset [that players changed the penalty kick taker]. Christian [Pulisic] should take penalties. It must never happen again, and I told the players.”
Fonseca insisted that Pulisic should always take penalties moving forward, emphasizing that such changes should never happen again. Milan currently sits 6th in the Serie A standings and the USMNT number 10 has been crucial for the Italian side.
FBD | T.T. DesRois
