The pressure was never higher than in this important Serie A game. AC Milan and Fiorentina tightly contested against each other in an interesting battle. On the other hand, two AC Milan players caught hold of the ball. What sparked a normal penalty kick routine for Christian Pulisic became a controversial moment. And everyone’s got an opinion on it.

In a shocking turn for fans and pundits, however, Pulisic was passed up in favor of his teammates. Notably, Theo Hernández and Tammy Abraham took the penalties instead. Subsequently, people challenged the choice, opening a whole can of worms on how teams should operate when the stakes are high.

After the incident, former U.S. international and pundit Jimmy Conrad offered some trenchant advice for Pulisic and told him to look up Chelsea’s ex-manager, Mauricio Pochettino’s guidance. “I think Christian [Pulisic] is being polite, and we want him to be more of an A-hole in this particular situation.” The source of Conrad’s comments was obvious: Pulisic, dubbed ‘Captain America,’ has to be more aggressive in pivotal moments like shootouts. Demand the ball, young star!

However, Pochettino has a history of coaching more aggressive leaders, and his job comes at the right time. Under Pochettino’s guidance, players on the field have often made their voices heard, influencing tight games and leading teams towards victory with their interventions.

This is an even larger problem for AC Milan. Christian Pulisic could benefit from adopting the kind of attitude Conrad highlighted if he is to become a clear leader in the dressing room. Moreover, penalties are as much the domain of the head as they are of the feet, and striking the ball remains critical. The two AC Milan players fluffed their penalties, which irked Paulo Fonseca.

If Pulisic played with that kind of chip Conrad is referring to and started acting a bit more like an ‘A-Hole’ it would not only bode well for him. But, it also helps the mentality of AC Milan in these big, must-win moments. That leaves the serious question of when the dust settles: Will Pulisic ultimately go for a more aggressive leadership?

Advice from Pochettino could be part of the model for the player and his team in the long term. However, what did Paulo Fonseca say about the penalty-taker situation at the press conference? Let’s find out.

Post-match press conference, Fonseca: “I’m angry, Christian Pulisic is the penalty taker”

After Fiorentina beat AC Milan in the tight affair, the consequences for the players in the dressing room remain unknown. The penalty fiasco angered AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca because he wanted Christian Pulisic on the spot-kick. Much like what happened with Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson desired to take the penalty instead of Cole Palmer, resulting in a similar situation. 

“It should never happen again, I told the players. I’m angry; the taker is Christian (Pulisic).” Fonseca’s annoyance suggests a breakdown in discipline and communication on the pitch.

He added, “It doesn’t matter if there are rumors; they are not important to me.“

However, about the sudden drop, Fonseca highlighted, “In Italy, when you win, you’ve played a great match. We didn’t score, and we’re the worst team in the world, just like I’m the worst coach. I know how things are, but I can’t be like that.“

All in all, it looks to be a situation blown out of proportion. As for Christian Pulisic, he would want to be more assertive the next time around. What are your thoughts on this ongoing issue?