Milan: Pulisic vows to work harder after penalty miss, Leao... | OneFootball

After missing a penalty against Juventus, Christian Pulisic wanted to apologize to the Milan fans and the entire Rossoneri environment. Meanwhile, his Portuguese teammate divides the fans...

Milan, Pulisic takes responsibility for the penalty miss: "I will work ten times harder". While Leao...

The American vented his frustration in a post published on Instagram, in which he expressed deep disappointment and determination to make up for the mistake.

"It kills me to let this club down. I will work ten times harder to fix things. Forza Milan always."

Pulisic's words come after an intense match, marked by his penalty miss that weighed on the final result. This is the second penalty he has missed with Milan, after the one last season in Turin against Torino.

In the meantime, the pitch-side cameras captured a curious exchange between Massimiliano Allegri and his assistant Landucci:

"Did he shoot flat? But how? I told him not to do it."

A comment that shows the tension and surprise at the American striker's mistake, in a key match for the title race.

Leao, the turning point that doesn't come: attitude and wasted opportunities inflame the fans

The return of Rafael Leao to the field, after his calf injury, was supposed to represent a new beginning. His first goal of the season, scored on August 17 against Bari in the Coppa Italia, seemed to herald a starring year. However, recent performances tell a different story.

In the match against Juventus, the number 10 Rossoneri came on in the 63rd minute to replace Santiago Gimenez, but he wasted two clear chances that could have changed the game. The first, on a cross from Pulisic, from close range: shot just a few meters wide. The second, with almost no time left, after an assist from Luka Modric, ended in the arms of Juventus goalkeeper Di Gregorio.

Mistakes that have ignited the criticism of the fans, increasingly impatient with the Portuguese talent.

On social media, many Rossoneri supporters accuse him of lack of commitment, citing his frequent live streams on Twitch as a symbol of a lack of total focus on the field. The verdict is clear: "He's good, but he doesn't apply himself."

The competition in attack and Allegri's message

With Pulisic now a key player in the starting eleven, Allegri has to choose between Gimenez, Nkunku and Leao to accompany him in the offensive department. The coach, while publicly defending the Portuguese, has issued a clear warning:

"He wants to do well. Leao is in his hands. He knows it's an important season. He needs the team and the team needs him."

The message is unequivocal: Leao must change his mentality and find his effectiveness in front of goal, or he risks losing his starting spot.

Analysis: Milan and the penalty taboo

The penalty missed by Pulisic reignites a chronic problem for Milan: the low conversion rate from the penalty spot. No team in Europe, at the moment, has missed so many penalties in the last two years. A statistic that weighs heavily, especially in a balanced championship, where every detail can make a difference in the title race.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.