Pulisic insists Maignan ‘100 per cent deserved Man of the Match’ in Milan Derby | OneFootball

Mike Maignan was asked for his favourite save after AC Milan beat Inter 1-0, while Christian Pulisic admits he ‘only scored an easy goal, so Mike deserved’ MOTM.

The Rossoneri were under the cosh for long periods, thanking Maignan and the woodwork for denying Francesco Acerbi and Lautaro Martinez in the first half.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan competes for the ball with Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

However, they struck first with Christian Pulisic ready to finish off the Alexis Saelemaekers counter-attack, then Maignan stepped up again to keep out the Hakan Calhanoglu penalty.

It was the captain’s second spot-kick save of the season, after neutralising Paulo Dybala in another Scudetto showdown with Roma.

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Maignan and Pulisic heroes for AC Milan

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Mike Maignan of AC Milan saves a penalty kick Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“All the saves were my favourites, because they were all important to keep the clean sheet,” Maignan told DAZN Italia.

“We all worked together under pressure, and when we do that, we can achieve great results. As I’ve always said, we have to continue like this and keep working.”

Maignan was informed that the last time a goalkeeper saved a penalty in the derby for AC Milan, which back then was Ciprian Tatarusanu, they went on to win the Scudetto.

“We mustn’t make these comparisons. It is positive tonight because we won, but there is a long way to go and we have to use these victories to keep pushing.”

This means Milan are unbeaten in their last six derbies in all competition, managing four victories and two draws between Serie A, the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates with his team-mate Alexis Saelemaekers after scoring their team’s first goalduring the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It came down to these two for Man of the Match, but Maignan received the award from the Lega Serie A, which his teammate entirely agreed with.

“Mike 100 per cent deserved the award, I scored an easy goal, while he had about 10 big saves,” insisted Pulisic on DAZN Italia.

This was the American’s third goal in an edition of the Derby della Madonnina, not to mention his seventh of the season overall between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

“This is my job, I have to score goals. I was in the right place at the right time, so I scored.”

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: AC Milan players celebrate the victory at the end of the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The result also puts AC Milan into joint second place with Napoli on 25 points, leapfrogging Inter who are pushed down to fourth position.

Curiously, they beat Bologna, Napoli, Roma and Inter, drawing with Juventus, but dropped points against Cremonese, Parma and Pisa.

“It is good, that we are strong against the big clubs, so we just need to keep the same intensity and play at this level with the other fixtures too,” concluded Pulisic.