GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Malik Tillman scoring on Leverkusen debut
So, Christian Pulisic is back for the USMNT. This is probably a good thing.
Can we now do away with the whole breaking down of every news conference, quote and random take thrown around the Pulisic extended cinematic universe?
Now, it should be about the football. And the football isn't bad, as it turns out. Eyebrows were collectively raised when Pulisic was benched to start for Milan against Lecce on Friday. Was this a message from Max Allergri? Was Mauricio Pochettino pulling the strings from afar?
As it turned out, it was neither. Pulisic was a little sore, and could only play around 30 minutes. And what a half hour it was for him, including a late goal.
But he wasn't the only one to make an impact, amid a fine weekend of work for Americans abroad. Josh Sargent showed yet again that he can still score for his club. Haji Wright, too, made an impact. An injury-free season could really see his career take off. And then there's Malik Tillman, who marked his first Bayer Leverkusen start in style.
Piece it all together, and it was hard to have any complaints. The international break is here. A few key players will be involved for Pochettino and the USMNT. In short, it was an encouraging weekend.
GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.
Getty ImagesPulisic, who can still kick a soccer ball
USMNT social media all got a bit collectively concerned when Pulisic was benched for Milan's game with Lecce. There was speculation that he had an ankle injury. This all sounded rather bad, especially given that we are just over a week away from a friendly that could be pivotal in defining where, exactly, this U.S. side is heading into the World Cup.
And as the game wore on – and Milan couldn't crack a well-drilled defense – Pulisic's absence became increasingly worrysome. Could Max Allergri risk him? Would he? Was Pulisic on the bench to make up the numbers, or was this a load management situation?
Turns out, it was the latter. Pulisic came on for the last 20 minutes. By then, Milan were leading 1-0. And he was magnificent. The were limp when Pulisic came on. He changed that, near single-handedly. Pulisic bagged one goal, and would have likely set up another had his teammates been more clinical.
The extent of his knock remains unclear, but if this was a warmup for 180 important minutes, then Pochettino should be encouraged.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesJosh Sargent, who can't stop scoring
Josh Sargent is a truly baffling footballer. Either that, or he's just someone who's found his level – and should stick to it. All summer, there's been background chatter that a bigger move is on the way. There was noise about a transfer to Germany that he turned down. Burnley were momentarily interested. There is, for some reason, a groundswell of insistence that Sargent should be playing in a top-five league.
Whether that's accurate or not isn't clear. What is immediately apparent, though, is just how good Sargent is at the EFL Championship level. He scored twice for Norwich against an admittedly poor Blackburn side on Saturday, finding the net from the penalty spot shortly before half time, and then later smashing home to ice a win.
After his second goal, he ran to the fans in the corner of the stadium, tapping the badge with the kind of gusto of a man who doesn't plan on going anywhere. If he sticks around – based on this form – that might not be such a bad thing.
GettyHaji Wright, who might also be too good for the Championship
What about dueling strikers in the EFL Championship? Sounds kind of fun. And that might be the reality here. Haji Wright – say it quietly – might just be the better of the two, in comparison to Sargent. He's more versatile, better defensively, and more capable with his feet. But while Sargent has constantly ticked along, Wright had been held back by a litany of little knocks here and there.
Well, he's been injury free to start the campaign, and it shows. Wright now has five goals and one assist in six games across all competitions, and contributed to yet another Coventry win with a tidy finish inside the box on Saturday.
There wasn't going to be loads of glamor about their fixture with struggling Oxford United. But the Sky Blues got it done, and Wright, once again, was integral to their effort. Now, it's just a question of staying fit.
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GettyMalik Tillman, who might just be ready for his step up
Well, that's sorted. Malik Tillman is elite. The U.S. were lucky to snap him up so early, because this dual-national should be playing for Germany. Goodbye, Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and a collective of top-10 midfielders in the world, here we have an American who was good for PSV last year.
Of course, that's something of a harsh characterization.
Tillman earned his $41 million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen. He couldn't make it as a teenager at Bayern Munich, but proved that he is ready for a step up from the Eredivisie, where it was clear that he simply saw the game quicker and easier than everyone else. Leverkusen, though, is a tricky place.
They are a team in between eras, with Xabi Alonso's exit leaving new manager Erik Ten Hag with a rebuilding job on his hands. Tillman has walked into a high pressure situation.
And despite not quite being 100-percent fit, he embraced the challenge in full in his first start for his new club. Tillman glided around the pitch for an hour, connecting play, putting in work when he didn't have the ball, and always making the right decision.
He grabbed a goal, too, reacting first to a loose ball and poking home. There will, surely, be games where he is more involved. But for an hour's work at a new club, few could complain.