Christian Pulisic wanted to go in goal! Why USMNT star saw offer snubbed as AC Milan turned to Olivier Giroud after Mike Maignan red card

The United States international forward stands at 5ft 10in tall, and that is not considered to be enough for a role between the sticks. That did not stop the USMNT star offering up his services when seeing Milan lose their goalkeeper to a red card while having no substitutions left up their sleeve.

World Cup-winning France international Giroud took over the gloves instead – as he is 6ft 4in tall – with Milan boss Stefano Pioli explaining the thought process there to Sky Sport Italia: “Pulisic wanted to go in goal but we told him he was too short, so Oli got picked to go in.”

Giroud justified that show of faith when pulling off a brave late stop which preserved Milan’s narrow 1-0 lead. The 37-year-old told reporters afterwards, having pulled Maignan’s keeper top over his own No.9 jersey: “I’m taking this shirt home and framing it.”

Pulisic netted the crucial goal for Milan at Genoa, with the American winger finding the target in the 87th minute, and another battling victory for the Rossoneri has them sat at the top of the Serie A table with 21 points taken from eight games so far.