The Nigerian, who will be the first Rossoneri to return from the national team, is improving significantly from an athletic point of view and is aiming for a starting shirt for the first Champions League match
Good humor, well, that’s always there. Samuel Chukwueze is like this: he laughs, smiles, looks for the fun side of his work and in doing so facilitates the fun of those called upon to manage it. What is still lacking, if anything, is playing time: three games, three appearances from the bench for a total of 55 minutes. Partly because Pulisic has found the old Christian from Dortmund and is becoming a phenomenon, partly because Samu was among the last to arrive at Milanello.
just one game
—
Pioli started working with him upon returning from the American tour and, in short, the tactical-athletic process started late. Let’s say that the Rossoneri coach would have preferred that his number 21 had been among the (few) players left at his disposal in recent days, but the national team called and Samu left. The good news is that Nigeria will play only one match, Sunday 10 September against São Tomé and Príncipe (African Cup qualifiers) and then there will be the breaking of lines. It means that “Chuk” will be the first of the national team to return to Milanello.
form
—
The other good news is that Samu, well on his way, won’t have to wait much longer to start getting serious with his new shirt. This break is clearly a seasonal watershed: so far, regular weeks, from the derby onwards it will be played three times a week until the next break in mid-October. It means that Pulisic won’t be able to play them all, but it’s not just a question that revolves around the US captain’s form. Basically, there is a very clear discussion about the Rossoneri 2023-24 squad: Pioli asked, and obtained, to raise the level of the “couples”. Now the gap between potential starters and reservists has decreased considerably and the turnover will be easier and less impactful. Finally, there is – but this is the real news – the Nigerian’s comforting progress from a physical point of view, as assured by those who see him working at Milanello. Legs that increase the minutes to spend and more explosive muscles for a player whose best weapons are duels and acceleration. In other words: Chukwueze will not challenge Pulisic for a place in the derby starting XI, but he is an option to take into due consideration for Newcastle in the Champions League three days later.
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED