The United States coach Gregg Berhalter has offered a diplomatic answer when asked to predict the outcome of Sunday’s derby between Milan and Juventus. With four USA stars expected to take the field at San Siro, this heavyweight contest has been aptly named ‘Derby d’USMNT.’
Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah will don the Milan shirt. Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie will line up on the opposite end of the field, looking to help Juventus upset the apple cart in Lombardy. As such, four United States players could feature in the same Serie A game for the first time.
There’s no doubt Pulisic and Musah will start for Milan. The USMNT captain has been in superb form this season. After scoring a late winner against Genoa, the quicksilver winger was on the scoresheet in both United States games during the international break.
Weah and McKennie weren’t as prolific as the new Milan talisman, but they both played their parts in a 4-0 demolition of Ghana. Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has reincorporated the latter in his starting XI amid Paul Pogba’s doping scandal and Nicolo Fagioli’s gambling problems.
It’s uncertain whether Weah will start tomorrow night. But Berhalter hopes all his four stars will grace the field.
“I will be rooting for a 2-2 with goals from Pulisic, Musah, Weah, and McKennie,” he joked in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
He also waxed lyrical about Pulisic, who is making his strides at Milan.
“Christian is unquestionable in terms of talent, as well as his character and tactical ability. At Milan and with Pioli, he has found the confidence to get to the top,” Berhalter continued.
“He defends, attacks, dribbles. He is a top player and I’m sure he will become even more complete in Italy.“
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