There's a new coach in Milan, and his arrival will have a big impact on the two Americans in the team
The new year brought in a new coach Christian Pulisic and AC Milan and, for better or worse, this isn't a new phenomenon for the U.S. international star. New manager Sergio Conceicao is now the 12th club boss Pulisic has worked under – all before the age of 27.
Conceicao is Pulisic's ninth permanent club coach in less than a decade. That's nine different introductions and nine different relationships that needed building from the ground up. For the purpose of this exercise, though, there are also nine different tactical systems and styles to work through, and Conceicao will bring his own to Milan.
However, it probably comes at the right time for Milan. The club struggled to keep up in Serie A, sitting outside the Champions League qualification spots at eighth place. Ultimately, the previous manager Paulo Fonseca paid the price for those failings after just six months on the job. Now, it's Conceicao's time to figure it all out.
The Portuguese manager's arrival, however, could change things for Pulisic. Under Fonseca, he thrived, even if the club as a whole struggled. On an individual level, he had never played better, buoyed by the confidence Fonseca placed in him. Now, with the reset button effectively hit, there are plenty of questions about what this means for Pulisic as he returns from injury.
Pulisic isn’t the only American facing uncertainty at Milan. Fellow USMNT player Yunus Musah also finds himself in a period of transition. With a likely shift in the club's style of play, what impact will these changes have on him? GOAL analyzes the move.
Getty Images SportAnother year, another new coach
It's a familiar sight now. Just as Pulisic gets going, a coaching change occurs. It's clockwork at this point.
He played under four managers at Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel, Peter Bosz, Peter Stöger and Lucien Favre — and that doesn't even include his brief tutelage under Jurgen Klopp prior to his departure to Liverpool in 2015.
However, it was at Chelsea where Pulisic got a taste of the coaching merry-go-round. Recruited by Maurizio Sarri, Pulisic never even played a game in blue before the Italian was gone, replaced by Frank Lampard. Injuries prevented him from really breaking through under the Englishman, while Tuchel never really rediscovered his Dortmund connection with Pulisic in London. It never really worked during Graham Potter's brief spell, while Lampard's return effectively shut the door on Pulisic's stint at Stamford Bridge.
Even at Milan, Pulisic has had a revolving door of voices in the manager's office. Stefano Pioli was the guy in charge when he arrived and, by and large, should be credited for helping rebuild Pulisic's confidence. His exit led to Fonseca, who built on that foundation to turn Pulisic into one of the best in Serie A. Now Conceicao steps in and brings his own history and ideas to the red side of Milan.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesEnter Conceicao
The situation at Milan will feel a little bit familiar to Conceicao, who has experience helping a historic club regain ground against a local rival. There's no doubt that Milan are behind Inter, and several Serie A rivals right now, and if Conceicao can pull off what he did at Porto, the Rossoneri will turn into one heck of a team.
Conceicao, who coincidentally played for Inter for two seasons, spent seven seasons in charge of Porto, setting the record for most games in charge of the club. He won three league titles during that span, including a double in 2019-20 and 2021-22. Under Conceicao, Porto were also a regular threat in the Champions League, making it to the knockout rounds five times in his seven seasons in charge. Included in those runs? Knockout round wins over two Italian heavy-hitters, Roma and Juventus.
The Portuguese manager comes with a resume, that lines up with what Milan want to achieve. He's capable of handling life at a big club with expectations, although it has to be said that Milan are on a different level than Porto in that regard.
He's a Champions League-proven manager but also a team-builder; his arrival at the Dragões helped end a five-year spell of Benfica dominance. He won the title in two of his first three seasons in charge. In addition, he helped turn young stars into legitimate stars, working with the likes of Luis Diaz, Eder Militao, and Fabio Vieira before their moves to massive clubs.
Replicating that success in Milan could have its challenges though.
Getty Images SportPlacing Pulisic in Conceicao's tactics
At Porto, Conceicao earned a reputation as something of a defensive specialist. During his first title-winning season, Porto conceded just 18 goals in 34 matches. That bodes well for Milan, who have conceded 17 in 17 games to start the Serie A season.
However, labeling Conceicao as a defensive coach or a pragmatist might be not fully accurate. There are attacking ideas there, too.
Conceicao has shown a willingness to play two strikers together, meaning he could rely on both Tammy Abraham and Alvaro Morata up top. Or he could go with a younger option in Noah Okafor in place of one of those two strikers. There's also the potential of lining up Pulisic or Rafael Leao to play one of those central roles.
Pulisic, of course, would play as more of a shadow striker to link play, while Leao would bring a more direct profile to that spot if he did tuck inside. It seems unlikely, though, as Leao looks set to be a key figure for his fellow Portuguese on that left wing.
Conceicao isn't just married to a 4-4-2, though. He also utilized a 4-2-3-1, particularly when star striker Mehdi Taremi was out of action at Porto. In that setup, Pulisic could stay in the middle spot of the three behind the forward, a position he thrived in under Fonseca. Realistically, you're splitting hairs differentiating that from him playing as the second striker in a 4-4-2, but it's worth noting.
Then, there's the final option: the 4-3-3. It's the least likely option. Conceicao has generally had his team defend in two banks of four, and getting that defensive solidity right will be step one for him in these first few weeks in charge. He'll likely lean on what he knows and what he can teach quickly, particularly with the run of games to start, beginning with the Supercoppa Italiana clash with Juventus on Friday.
So, with all that in mind, what is the best for Pulisic in Conceicao's potential set up. It's very clear that Conceicao has one heck of a left side with Leao and Theo Hernandez, but we don't yet know if he'll see Pulisic as a right-sided attacker or a No. 10. Per Transfermarkt, Pulisic's biggest successes have come on the right wing. He's scored seven goals and provided two assists out wide, while scoring just once with three assists as a No. 10. Throughout his career, Pulisic has shown a willingness and ability to track back, having played as a wingback at times at Chelsea. That'll help if Milan go with a flat 4-4-2 with him out wide.
Pulisic isn't the only American to think about here. Musah is a talking point, too.
Getty Images SportWhat about Musah?
Conceicao will likely go with two designated central midfielders. For Musah, that means he'll have a fight on his hands.
At the moment, Musah still remains something of a tweener. He's not defensively solid enough to be a No. 6 and he's not statistically strong enough to be a No. 8. Because of that, he's been shifted out wide lately, playing in the right-hand side for both the USMNT and Milan. He's had to fight for midfield minutes at Milan this season, and that fight won't get easier.
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport offered a glimpse into what Conceicao's team could look like once it is no longer decimated by injuries, including the ones to Pulisc and Musah. Youssouf Fofana and Tijani Reijnders are key midfield pieces. Ismael Bennacer is on the mend. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, could reportedly be a centerpiece under the new coach. That leaves little room for Musah, particularly if Conceicao does eventually go with just two central midfielders.
Could that make Musah Pulisic's understudy on the right? It's very possible, at least initially. He's a different type of player, but one who has something to offer with his ability to advance the ball. Still, it appears Musah could be looking at a lesser role under the new boss.