‘Can’t allow that to happen’ – Frustration for USMNT star Christian Pulisic despite ninth goal of the season & Europa League win for AC Milan

The Rossoneri are in control of their continental last-16 encounter after registering four goals on home soil. Olivier Giroud, Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were all on target before half-time, after seeing El Hadji Malick Diouf sent off for the visitors in the 26th minute, while Pulisic wrapped up the scoring five minutes from time.

Despite claiming a commanding first leg lead, USMNT star Pulisic told Milan TV of giving 10-man Slavia hope: “At the end it felt a bit disappointing because even with 10 men they managed to score two goals and obviously that hurts – we can’t allow that to happen. Sure we have to give them credit, they were great finishes, but I think we can be a bit smarter and close the game out. We’re still winning, two goals in front, so we have the advantage, but of course there is that feeling of we could have done more.”

Pulisic registered his second goal of 2024 when netting late on, and his first in the Europa League. He added on his contribution in the final third: “Of course it’s nice to get a goal, this is my job and I have to continue to put pressure on their defenders and cause problems and help us to try and score goals. I can be happy, but we would like to win with more goals.”

Milan have a home date with Empoli to take in on Sunday, as they battle to claim second place in Serie A, before heading to the Czech Republic next Thursday for the return leg of their European showdown with Slavia.