Head coach Paolo Fonseca says Christian Pulisic’s injury will not affect Milan’s preparations for Sunday’s Serie A match against Roma.
Pulisic has missed Milan’s last two league matches with a thigh injury in their 2-1 defeat to Atalanta, with Fonseca’s injury concerns only increasing this term.
The United States international has been involved in a team-high nine goals for Milan this season, creating 28 chances, also a joint-best for the Rossoneri.
Fonseca revealed that Pulisic is now suffering from an ankle problem, which means he will be ruled out for Milan’s upcoming clash against Roma at the San Siro.
“I was hoping to get Pulisic. He is fine, he has recovered from his calf problem, but in the last two days he has had ankle problems,” Fonseca said.
“It arose in the recovery process, and he is not ready to play tomorrow, not even for the bench.”
Milan’s season has been plagued by injury problems, although Fonseca expects both Alvaro Morata and Ismael Benasar to be in contention for this weekend’s match.
The Rossoneri sit eighth in their Serie A standings, 14 points behind leaders Atalanta, while eight points adrift of a Champions League spot.
Fonseca said Ruben Loftus-Cheek will return next week, while Younes Musah and Rafael Leo are aiming to be fit for their Italian Super Cup tie against Juventus.
“We’ll be eleven anyway,” added the 51-year-old.
Fonseca previously coached Roma for two years between 2019 and 2021, winning 53 of his 102 matches in charge (D21 L28), with a win percentage of 51.96%.
“Roma is a great club, they have a great team,” he said. “I have many friends there. But in 90 minutes, I only think about winning.
Milan have kept at least six clean sheets in their first eight home games of the Serie A season for the second time in the winning era since 2002-03 (seven).
However, the Rossoneri have not scored in three of their last four home league games, as well as their previous 45, but Fonseca says it is too early to write off his side.
“The mood is good. I couldn’t be more positive after the last training session,” he concluded.
