Christian Pulisic stays on the bench as Milan host Lazio in Serie A

Christian Pulisic will start the Serie A clash against Lazio from the bench, as manager Ruben Amorim continues to manage the USMNT winger’s recovery. Despite being named in AC Milan’s squad for the first three league games, the 27‑year‑old has not yet logged a competitive minute this season.

Squad inclusion and injury management

Milan have included Pulisic in the matchday squad for each of the first three Serie A fixtures, yet he has not featured a single minute. The coach’s decision leaves him out of the starting XI, extending a run of three unused‑substitute appearances. Saturday’s trip to the Stadio Olimpico will mark a fourth consecutive game without his involvement.

The winger’s bench role is largely explained by his recent injury record. During the 2026 World Cup he suffered a bone bruise and a microfracture around his right tibia and fibula, limiting him to 224 minutes across four USMNT appearances. In the 2025‑26 campaign Opta logged 30 Serie A outings and 1,611 minutes, down from 34 outings and 2,489 minutes the season before.

His return to Milan training was further disrupted by another knock, preventing the uninterrupted preseason preparation Amorim would have preferred. The fragmented preparation has made his exclusion from the starting XI easier to understand, even if it remains frustrating for a player once central to the Rossoneri’s attack.

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Cisse’s form and Amorim’s philosophy

Nineteen‑year‑old Alphadjo Cisse has seized the opportunity, finding the net twice in Milan’s opening three league matches. Those goals have given Amorim little incentive to alter a player who is delivering immediate results, and they explain why Cisse occupies the wide‑right role that Pulisic normally fills.

“I won’t remove anyone who’s doing well just to name a player. This is my way of managing the group, and I’ll die with these principles,” Amorim said. “I love that Pulisic is upset because he has zero minutes; it shows the competitive mentality I want.”

Despite the bench spot, Amorim confirmed Pulisic will see action against Lazio. He told reporters he expects the USMNT winger to feature for a few minutes, most likely after halftime, provided his physical condition allows it.

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If the second‑half cameo goes well, the coach hinted that Pulisic’s minutes could increase in the weeks that follow. His full reintegration will continue to be paced according to his recovery.