Pulisic backs Amorim despite 'strange start' as AC Milan settle into new era

Christian Pulisic has offered a positive verdict on Ruben Amorim’s early tenure at AC Milan, describing the Portuguese coach as someone he is ‘very optimistic about’ despite acknowledging a difficult personal start to the season.

Amorim left Manchester United in January after a troubled 14-month spell at Old Trafford and returned to management in June, signing a two-year contract with the Serie A club. He has won three of his first six games in charge, leaving Milan two points off the top of the table.

Pulisic, who missed the opening weeks of Amorim’s reign through injury, found himself on the bench for the first five matches once fit. The American winger was candid about the frustration that brought, while stopping short of any criticism of his manager.

“It was a bit strange for me at the start of the season,” Pulisic said. “Obviously, I always want to play. It’s not that I was upset with him or the team, but I always want to play. I was coming back from an injury; now I feel good and hope to get a bit more playing time.”

Despite limited exposure to Amorim’s methods — he has featured just three times under the new coach — Pulisic spoke warmly of the relationship developing between the squad and their manager.

“I have a good relationship with him,” he said. “We’re all learning his system and how he wants us to play. I’m very optimistic about him. The last match was perhaps one of our best; we want to keep up the momentum. So far, it has been positive.”

Amorim, for his part, had previously singled out Pulisic’s competitive frustration at being sidelined as a quality he values in his players. “Pulisic is upset at the moment because he has zero minutes, and I love that,” the coach said. “I love that in my players.”

The winger has since repaid that faith. He was named man of the match in a 3-0 victory over Lecce before the international break, with Milan’s own coverage highlighting his constant involvement and growing importance to Amorim’s system.

Milan return to Serie A action with an away fixture at Sassuolo next Sunday.