Christian Pulisic faces a defining fortnight as AC Milan fights to salvage their Serie A season. With just two matches remaining, the Italian giants have dropped to fourth place and risk missing Champions League qualification entirely—a collapse that threatens both the club's European future and the American winger's standing at the San Siro.
Milan's dramatic downturn has been staggering. From August 29 through February 22, the Rossoneri went unbeaten. Since mid-March, they have won only two of their last eight games, collecting just seven points from that stretch. That form has seen them tumble to fourth, now level on points with AS Roma for fifth place—which drops into the Europa League—while Como lurks just two points further back. The difference between fourth and sixth is massive: Champions League prestige and revenue against Conference League football.
Pulisic's Injury Clouds the Picture
Pulisic's glute injury forced him out of Milan's 3-2 loss to Atalanta last weekend, a defeat that included fan walkouts and deepened the crisis. Initial reports suggested the injury was not serious, and he could feature this weekend. However, with a home World Cup coming later this year, rushing him back carries genuine risk for both club and country. Mauricio Pochettino has already signaled that meaningful games have arrived for USMNT players; Pulisic cannot afford setbacks now.
The timing makes Pulisic's form more critical. He has not scored in 2026, a drought that mirrors Milan's broader attacking struggles. Manager Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly considering alternatives like Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Fullkrug for the final push. Whether Pulisic plays or sits, his future hangs in the balance alongside Milan's.
Milan must essentially perform at near-perfect levels over their final two fixtures to guarantee Champions League football. For Pulisic, these next few weeks represent far more than a league race—they define whether he can deliver when AC Milan needs him most, before he rejoins a USMNT preparing for continental tournament football.
