Pulisic setback not an issue for injury-hit Milan, says Fonseca

Christian Pulisic's injury setback will not affect Milan's preparations for their Serie A clash against Roma this Sunday, head coach Paulo Fonseca said.

Pulisic has missed Milan's last two league fixtures with a thigh injury picked up in their 2-1 defeat to Atalanta, only adding to Fonseca's injury woes this term.

The United States international has a team-high nine goal involvements for Milan this season, with his 28 chances created, also the joint-best for the Rossoneri.

Fonseca revealed that Pulisic was now suffering with an ankle issue, meaning he would be ruled out for Milan's upcoming encounter against Roma at the San Siro.

"I expected to have Pulisic. He is fine, he has recovered from his calf problem, but in the last two days he has had an ankle problem," Fonseca said.

"It has arisen in the recovery process, and he is not ready to play tomorrow, not even for the bench."

Milan's season has been plagued by injury issues, though Fonseca is expecting both Alvaro Morata and Ismael Bennacer to be in contention for this weekend's fixture.

The Rossoneri find themselves eighth in the Serie A standings, 14 points behind leaders Atalanta, while also being eight points adrift of the Champions League places.

Fonseca said that Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be back next week, while Yunus Musah and Rafael Leao are aiming to be fit for their Italian Super Cup tie against Juventus.

"We'll have eleven anyway," the 51-year-old added.

Fonseca previously coached Roma for two years between 2019 and 2021, winning 53 of his 102 matches in charge (D21 L28), ending with a win percentage of 51.96%.

"Roma is a great club, they have a great team," he said. "I have many friends there. But in the 90 minutes, I only have the thought of winning."

Milan have kept at least six clean sheets in their first eight home games in a Serie A season for the second time in the three points for a win era, after 2002-03 (seven).

However, the Rossoneri haven’t scored in three of their last four home league games, as many as in their previous 45, but Fonseca said it is too early to write his team off.

"The mood is good. I can't be more positive after the last training sessions," he concluded.