Pulisic ‘job’ when Modric has the ball, Hutchinson gift after ‘massive’ first Milan goal

· FootballItalia

Christian Pulisic reveals his ‘job’ when seeing Luka Modric get the ball, while Omari Hutchinson...

The Rossoneri were under pressure after Thursday’s 3-0 Europa League defeat away to Bournemouth , making the trip to Udinese this evening without a host of star players.

Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira, Mario Gila, Samuel Chukwueze, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pietro Terracciano were out of action, so there was a lot of squad rotation.

Pulisic opened the scoring within six minutes, as he sprung the offside trap when Modric took a free kick quickly over the top, before Hutchinson secured the 2-0 victory.

> “When Modric has the ball and a little time, my job is to run into space and be ready,” Pulisic told DAZN Italia.

> “I had a good first touch and scored the goal. Last season, I scored a similar goal when offside, so I wasn’t sure whether to celebrate after it went into the net.”

It was at last an opportunity for Milan to start on the right foot, as they have often struggled in the first half this season.

> “We’ve got to start games the way we did today, because there are other matches where we take a little time to get into gear. Today we scored early, we had that intensity and it helped to set us up for the victory.”

Pulisic was asked if he has a leadership role within the squad, especially as he is now one of the more experienced members of the squad.

> “There are many leaders in the team. I am not someone who talks a lot, but with so many injuries today, everyone did really well.”

Hutchinson arrived at Milan late in the transfer window on loan with an option to buy from Nottingham Forest, and this evening was ready for the rebound from a parried Ardon Jashari shot to score his first goal for the club.

Most would keep that jersey as a memento, but the moment he was substituted, he handed it to a child in the stands.

> “I don’t really care, I’ve got my Milan debut shirt, which is more important,” Hutchinson shrugged to DAZN Italia.

> “I like to help out the kids, I’m a big inspiration to them, and I’m happy I got my goal. Besides, we get two jerseys.”

Pulisic pointed out he kept the shirt from his first Milan goal and gave it to his mother.

> “It’s a massive goal. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to shoot in games and haven’t taken them quickly enough, so this means a lot. I hadn’t scored in a while, I’m just happy to score and hope there will be more,” continued Hutchinson.

The Ballon d’Or will be assigned tomorrow evening in London, so who does Hutchinson think will win it?

> “I think Kane or Mbappé.”

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