Milan and penalties: the statistics, the apologies of Pulisic and the decision of Allegri

Perhaps it is the perspective, at least in Turin, to deceive. From the disk of the Olimpico Grande Torino to that of the Allianz Stadium there are about ten kilometers, but for Christian Pulisic every meter seems an extra weight, every step towards the ball a bitter memory that returns. In that right plate flown to the stars against Juventus there must have been at least one background to when, eight months ago, Milinkovic-Savic hypnotized him a cross-messenger, always from eleven meters. That day the Turin won 2-1 and Pulisic made mistaken the rigor of the possible draw in half an hour. Against Juve, from the spot, the ball weighed in a different way: it was that of the possible advantage in the 53 ‘, which could have avoided Rabiot’s nervousness at the end of the game (“They are two lost points, I am angry”) and give Milan a possible primacy in the standings with a victory – together with Naples and Rome – before the stop.

Pulisic and the Tabu ‘rigori

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Christian Pulisic’s Day After was a message of public apologies for the mistake from the spot: “He kills me to disappoint this club. I will work ten times more hard to fix things. Force Milan always,” he wrote in an Instagram story. This is the second wrong career penalty for the American, both with the Milan shirt and within eight months. Allegri, in the post race, dedicated a caress with his usual lordship (“the penalties are wrong”), even if during the execution he had preferred to turn his back for superstition. Then, he realized the error, he turned to Landucci complaining about the way Captain America had kicked: “He pulled on a plate? But how? I told him not to do it”. Pulisic’s historian from the spot tells of a player who has almost always chosen the power, crossing on his left. Di Gregorio knew it and dived on that side, but the ball flew to the stars. Milinkovic-Savic, last February, did the same thing, blocking the American shot. In total Pulisic kicked six penalties with Milan: four made them (against Parma, Lecce, Juventus and Venice) and two made wrong.

The negative data

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There is a fact that explains well the performance of Milan from eleven meters. Since the beginning of 2024, the Rossoneri made seven of the thirteen penalties traveled in Serie A’s wrong (54%), record in the top 5 European championships in the aforementioned period. The balance of the last seven penalties says it all: five errors made by four different shooters. It all started a year ago in that Fiorentina-Milan 2-1: first Theo Hernandez and then Abraham made themselves hypnotized by an amazing de Gea. The scene of the second penalty is emblematic: Tomori “snatches” the ball in Pulisic – initially designated as a rigorist – to deliver it to his compatriot and friend. Which will then be wrong. Fonseca, in the post race, did not send them to say: “I am inc …”. The other three errors bring the signature of Pulisic, twice, and Santiago Gimenez, hypnotized by Meret in Milan’s defeat in Naples on 30 March. Those five errors from the spot, two of which in the same game, cost three defeats and a draw. Max, we have a problem.

The previous Dybala

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Between insubordination, hierarchical confusion and wrong executions, Milan has had more than one problem in the last year on the theme penalties. Allegri confirmed Pulisic as a number one rigorist, also because there are not many real specialists: Modric marked 24 and wrong 6, Rabiot has never created one, Santiago Gimenez marked 15 and bankrupt 5. In short, for Allegri the choice, in case he wants to change, is not so large. And knowing the character, who hardly let himself be conditioned by a negative episode, Pulisic will remain the chosen one from the eleven meters. In 2017 Dybala missed two consecutive penalties with Juventus and Allegri said: “I don’t change absolutely rigorist: it can happen to be wrong two. Paulo will come out fortified”. Translated: Pulisic can be calm. Maybe he will change the joke or better study the opposing goalkeepers and their movements. A bit like in that board game where you have to study the opponent, plan a strategy and anticipate its moves. And yes, chess pulisic can do it.