AC Milan concerned over Christian Pulisic ahead of final preseason match vs Chelsea
AC Milan have two more preseason friendlies remaining before wrapping up their tour, with the final match set against Chelsea. One of the key questions for the Italian side ahead of that clash is whether Christian Pulisic will be available.
In the early stages of preseason under Massimiliano Allegri, Milan traveled through Southeast Asia and Oceania. They first played Arsenal in a friendly in Singapore, followed by a match against Liverpool in Hong Kong.
In that game, Pulisic started but was substituted at halftime by Noah Okafor. During his 45 minutes on the field, the American forward suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from training properly in the following days. As a result, the coach opted to leave him out of the third preseason match, a dominant 9-0 win over Perth Glory in Australia.
Initially, Pulisic was expected to return in time for the final two preseason games, which are scheduled to be played in Europe next weekend. However, Diario AS now reports doubts about the 26-year-old star’s availability, suggesting he might be held out to ensure full fitness ahead of the 2025–26 season.
Pulisic could miss return to Stamford Bridge
After wrapping up their tour through Asia and Australia, AC Milan are scheduled to return to Europe for the final stage of preseason. They will spend a few days in Italy before heading out again for the last two warm-up matches before the start of official competitions.
On Saturday, August 9, the Italian side will face Leeds United—newly promoted back to the Premier League—at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The following day, they will play Chelsea in London. This could have been the perfect opportunity for Christian Pulisic to reunite with former teammates and fans at Stamford Bridge, but the ankle injury may keep him from making that appearance.
When does the official season begin for AC Milan?
Once the matches against Leeds United and Chelsea are behind them, AC Milan will be ready to kick off their 2025–26 campaign. Their first official fixture is scheduled for August 17, when they host Bari in the first round of the Coppa Italia. Six days later, they will open their Serie A season against Cremonese.