BREAKING: FABIO CAPELLO WARNS AC MILAN—CHRISTIAN PULISIC CANNOT SAVE THE ROSSONERI ALONE
Fabio Capello warns AC Milan against Pulisic dependency as "Captain America" chases Lautaro Martinez for the 2026 Golden Boot.
AC Milan has been cautioned that Christian Pulisic, their Captain America, can't always save them. According to the legendary coach Fabio Capello, the Rossoneri are becoming overly reliant on their USMNT star, and he is closely monitoring the situation at San Siro. He doubts Pulisic can secure Serie A title glory and the Golden Boot.
Can Pulisic win the top scorer award?
Despite a few injuries this season, the United States international is currently in the running. Pulisic has scored eight goals in the Italian top division and reached double digits across all competitions.
Inter striker Lautaro Martinez leads Serie A at the start of 2026 but is only one goal ahead of Pulisic. The World Cup-winning Argentine is a central striker with a stronger track record in the final third.
Pulisic is proving he can keep up with the best, but can he maintain his impressive individual performance while also contributing to a Scudetto win? He might need to for Milan to finish first.
Is Milan depending too much on Pulisic?
When asked to predict the Serie A leading scorer for 2025-26, with Napoli loanee Rasmus Hojlund, Roma playmaker Matias Soule, and Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz also mentioned, Capello told Gazzetta dello Sport, "Lautaro consistently scores important goals, so he is an easy choice." But I am also very impressed with Hojlund, who is in great form and can give Antonio Conte some confidence about Lukaku's return.
I also see the strikers from Milan, Juventus, and Roma as contenders. The Rossoneri depend too much on Pulisic, especially when Rafael Leao is out, but the American can't always get his teammates out of trouble.
Yildiz is very talented and consistent in scoring goals and providing assists, but we must remember that he is still young. Lastly, Soule has about 11-12 goals, but he hasn't been a game-changer in big matches yet.
Former Milan player and manager Capello has previously commented on Pulisic's value to the Rossoneri and how to get the most out of him: Pulisic can play anywhere; he looks great in the current 3-5-2 formation. He moves well, has quality and speed, and makes vertical runs. I think starting in a central position suits him best because he is more dangerous when he is free to move.
Can Pulisic lead Milan to the Serie A title?
Pulisic is a consistent performer when healthy, and Milan wants to help the 27-year-old add to his medal collection. After winning the Supercoppa Italiana last season, he now has his sights on the Serie A title.
Capello added about their quest, with Milan benefiting from not playing in Europe during the week: Massimiliano Allegri will always have the week to focus his players on one goal since they were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia.
In the first half of the season, Milan lost focus in some games against smaller teams, but I expect Max to fix this and take advantage of the 'lighter' schedule compared to their rivals. This is possible if you have enough time to prepare tactically and psychologically for each match.
Another important point is that cup competitions can drain physical and mental energy and enthusiasm. A bad result or elimination can negatively affect the league campaign because it makes the atmosphere heavier.
Pulisic's contract situation: Still waiting for a San Siro extension
Milan hopes to remain in the title race in 2025-26 so they can persuade Pulisic that they are heading in the right direction. A key player at San Siro has postponed signing a new contract.
New talks are expected in the spring, and the Rossoneri are confident they can reach an agreement. However, they need to match the ambition of a player who will be leading his country in a home World Cup this summer.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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