How the Americans performed in Champions League
The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season marked a significant milestone in the continued rise of American footballers on the European stage. This season, a record-setting contingent of 11 Americans showcased their skills in the tournament, which concluded its group stage Wednesday.
Here's how the Americans performed
Christian Pulisic/ AC Milan: A consistent presence throughout all six games, Pulisic tallied 440 minutes on the pitch. His defining moment was an equalizer in the final group match, a pivotal goal that galvanized his team for a crucial win.
Sergino Dest/PSV: A workhorse on defense, Dest played in all six matches, amassing 466 minutes. His contributions extended beyond defensive duties as he provided a crucial assist, contributing to PSV's attack from fullback.
Yunus Musah/AC Milan: He demonstrated midfield control across five games, showcasing an exceptional 88.4% passing accuracy. Musah's ability to dictate play and distribute effectively proved pivotal in shaping AC Milan's tempo and possession in midfield battles.
Ricardo Pepi/PSV: Despite limited playing time (110 minutes), Pepi made an immediate impact with a goal and an assist. His efficiency in front of goal and ability to create opportunities in a short span proved vital for PSV, demonstrating his knack for making meaningful contributions in limited minutes.
Malik Tillman/PSV: Tillman played 325 minutes across all six games of group play. His role in orchestrating the midfield was highlighted by a key assist, amplifying PSV's attacking threats from the middle of the park.
Brenden Aaronson/Union Berlin: Playing just 134 minutes, Aaronson showed glimpses of his midfield presence when called upon. He proved his ability to impact the game in short bursts.
Cameron Carter-Vickers/Celtic: He showed defensive resilience with 27 recoveries across four matches. Carter-Vickers highlighted his ability to disrupt opposition plays and solidify the defensive line for Celtic.
Gio Reyna/Borussia Dortmund: Hindered by a leg injury, Reyna played limited minutes (21), which didn’t allow for his usual impactful playmaking and reduced his influence on Borussia Dortmund's performance.
Exclusions and circumstances
Diego Kochen (Barcelona) and Zack Steffen (Manchester City): They did not play.
Sam Vines/Royal Antwerp: As for Vines, an unfortunate administrative error led to his exclusion from Royal Antwerp’s Champions League roster and he did not play.
Dest, Tillman, Pepi, Steffen, Reyna and Kochen advanced to the round of 16 with their clubs.
The Champions League round of 16 draw will take place Monday at 6 a.m. ET.
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