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Howard Angry With AC Milan's 'Crazy' Reaction to Pulisic Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 4:02 PM ET

Christian Pulisic is sidelined due to a muscle injury after playing for the USMNT during the October international break last week. The American forward did not play much against Ecuador and Australia.

Due to this injury, Pulisic will be out for weeks, meaning that he will miss the upcoming games for AC Milan in Italy. There are a lot of fans discussing the international break being a bad thing for club football, as players often get injuries.

With Pulisic being the latest injury after an international break, AC Milan fans were furious to see one of their star players go out injured due to playing friendlies for the USMNT.

Former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard spoke about Milan's reaction towards the USMNT playing Pulisic in friendly matches.

Howard explained why the friendly matches Pulisic took part in with the USMNT are not a waste of time as the 2026 World Cup gets closer and how the team treats the upcoming friendly matches.

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States plays the ball during the first half against Australia during an international friendly at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on October 14, 2025 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)Photo by Ray Bahner/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images

Tim Howard on the USMNT friendly's importance

On the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Tim Howard spoke about AC Milan's manager, Massimiliano Allegri, confirming that Pulisic may be back before the November international break.

Howard and Landon Donovan think that Pulisic should play for the USMNT during the international breaks to gel with the USMNT ahead of the World Cup. Howard classifies the frineldies as unofficial World Cup qualifiers.

Tim Howard said, "Every game for the U.S. matters...This was essentially a World Cup qualifier for us [Ecuador & Australia friendly]...To suggest that he should not have played in a game that did mean something to the U.S., this is the beginning of the season. I think it's crazy for Milan to suggest that he shouldn't have played."

Landon Donovan backs Howard on questioning why Milan may be angry towards Pulisic participating in the USMNT friendly matches.

Donovan said, "Allegri, do me a favor. Have some context of the big picture and this is what bothers me about coaches. They're so focused on this day, this weekend, this result, themselves...Go back and look what Pochettino did in the past in letting Christian go. He didn't bring them in this summer to the Gold Cup. So he goes and he gets injured. It happens."