USMNT Player Tracker: 'Diabolical' Pulisic, Aaronson impresses and no Richards panic
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Greg O'Keeffe
Our roundup of the U.S. contingent's contributions across Europe also sees Patrick Agyemang continue his scoring streak in the Championship
Christian Pulisic’s “diabolical” Serie A exploits continue, Brenden Aaronson’s hard graft is paying off and Chris Richards’ “don’t panic” moment — it’s been a lively festive period for the USMNT’s European contingent.
Welcome to this week’s USMNT Player Tracker.
Pulisic accepts Oyegoke’s gift
It was a few days after Christmas, but Christian Pulisic was not done receiving gifts just yet.
On Sunday, Verona defender Daniel Oyegoke offered up his present to the American just before half-time of Milan’s impressive win in San Siro, and Pulisic gratefully received it.
Earlier this month, Rossoneri boss Max Allegri called Pulisic “diabolical” in front of goal. He presumably meant that the 27-year-old is ruthless and explosive by comparison to his calm manner off the field, rather than any negative connotation.
So when Pulisic was left free at the back post by Oyegoke to meet Adrien Rabiot’s header, he duly pounced and smashed it home.
Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring Milan’s first goal against Verona (Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images)
It was his eighth Serie A goal of the season and briefly put him joint top of the goalscoring charts alongside Inter’s Lautaro Martinez, although the latter notched again against Atalanta later in the day to keep him ahead in the chase for the golden boot.
Still, Pulisic’s goalscoring feats this season are arguably more impressive given he is not a centre-forward like the Argentinian.
He celebrated with a heart-shaped hand gesture then formed the letter A, interpreted by some as a sign of affection for his partner Alexa Melton in light of rumours about his love life.
But Pulisic’s focus does not seem to have been affected by the rumour mill. On the field, where his team are in a title race with their city rivals Inter, Napoli and maybe Weston McKennie’s Juventus, he remains ruthless.
Aaronson and Leeds showing signs of life
Earlier in the season it may have looked like Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United were in for another chastening Premier League campaign heading into a World Cup year.
Instead, both are showing signs that they have learned a lot from their last unsuccessful spell in the English top flight.
Leeds are infused with resilience, spirit and — pleasingly for the USMNT — increasingly relying on their American midfielder’s new maturity and ability to impact games.
Aaronson was not exactly a fan favourite during Leeds’ ill-fated 2022-23 campaign, which culminated in relegation back to the Championship. He played a notable part in their promotion last term, but some felt coach Daniel Farke should reach for different options back in the elite.
Like Leeds, though, Aaronson is beginning to prove the doubters wrong.
On Sunday, he provided the crucial assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Leeds came from behind to grab a draw at high-flying Sunderland. It extended their undefeated run to five and pulled them further away from the relegation zone.
Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin challenges Brenden Aaronson at the Stadium of Light (Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)
Afterwards, the American — who created the most chances, five, in the game — said his part in Leeds’ expertly worked strike represented “some of the best football I’ve been playing this season”.
“I’m at the highest level,” Aaronson told journalists post-match at the Stadium of Light. “I’m at the pinnacle of the Premier League, week in and week out.
“Maybe from the outside, it might not look like every game is really, really good, but the levels in my games have gotten much bigger, which is the ball retention, being able to hold off guys. It’s at a high level right now.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m playing and you (have) got to give yourself credit sometimes. I work my ass off and I’m going to continue to do that. I’m hungry and I want to score goals. I want to get assists and I want more from that.”
According to Opta, Aaronson has recorded three assists in his last seven Premier League appearances, as many as in his first 46 matches in the competition.
With a man-of-the-match display against Sunderland, he is seeing that hard work bear fruit.
Brenden Aaronson today was just the second player in the Premier League this season to have 15 touches in the opposition box and create 5 chances in a match, and the first Opta has on record since 2008-09 to do that for a newly promoted team. #lufcpic.twitter.com/KfenZ6HHqa
It was a case of panic quickly rising then averted for Crystal Palace and USMNT fans when it came to Chris Richards.
The centre-back is the sort of experienced, on-form defender upon whom Mauricio Pochettino will rely in the summer. So the sight of him being stretchered off, then using crutches, after Palace’s Carabao Cup defeat on penalties by Arsenal last Tuesday night was alarming.
Chris Richards is stretchered off at the Emirates Stadium (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
But rather than some nightmare-scenario break that could have jeopardised his World Cup hopes, Palace boss Oliver Glasner reassured everyone on Sunday that, in fact, the defender may miss just one game.
“We don’t know if he’s available for Fulham,” he said, addressing Richards’ injury ahead of their next Premier League game on New Year’s Day. “His foot got stitched. It’s still swollen. It goes in the right direction but you have to wear a boot and kick a ball.
“The wound is very, very painful so it could be that he misses Fulham, it could be that he’s available.”
The centre-half was at Selhurst Park on Sunday with his family to watch Palace lose 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in his absence.
Agyemang impact
Back in England’s second-tier Championship, Patrick Agyemang is in impressive form. His goal in Derby County’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham on December 26 meant he now has three in as many games, and four in his last six matches.
This winter is the 25-year-old’s first experience of English football’s packed fixture schedule over the Christmas and New Year period.
The striker, who signed from Major League Soccer side Charlotte in the summer, told the club’s website he is relishing it: “The boys have told me about this Christmas period and warned me. With these guys here, they’ve made it easy to focus and do what I can control.
“I am going to enjoy every moment because it is a blessing to be in this position.”
Patrick Agyemang acknowledges the supporters after scoring at St Andrew’s (Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Elsewhere across Europe, Weston McKennie was busy giving his hopes of a new contract at Juventus a boost with another impressive display in their win over Pisa.
In Scotland, USMNT defender Auston Trusty is helping make happier headlines for former Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy, who now has back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins after a 4-2 win at Livingston, with the centre-back impressing.
What’s coming up this week?
(All times Eastern Time)
Antonee Robinson, who created the most chances of the game in Fulham’s win over West Ham, will hope to build on a resurgent return to full fitness as the Cottagers travel to south London to take on Crystal Palace on Thursday (12:30pm, Peacock Premium).
On the same day at the same time, Aaronson will hope to play his part as Leeds United face Liverpool at Anfield.
On Friday, Milan head to Cagliari. See if Pulisic can prove “diabolical” again (2:45pm, Paramount +), then on Saturday McKennie and Juventus host Lecce (12pm, Paramount +).
