PSV’s 🇳🇱 American 🇺🇸 Trio Makes European History

"He hasn’t been sitting on the bench as much as I have but when we do, we normally sit next to each other. We’re usually watching the game and talking about stuff. We have a good relationship. I knew something about him before I came, but we didn’t have this special connection then.”

—Ricardo Pepi, on the friendship he has developed this season with PSV and USMNT teammate Malik Tillman. (The Athletic)

PSV’s American Trio Makes European History:

In a season filled with watershed moments for Americans Abroad, Tuesday saw yet another historic event for U.S. players in Europe.

When Ricardo Pepi 🇳🇱 (21; El Paso, TX) subbed on in the 75th minute of PSV’s match against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday — joining Sergiño Dest 🇳🇱 (23; Almere, NED) and Malik Tillman 🇳🇱 (21; Nürnberg, GER) on the pitch — it marked the first time ever that three USMNT players appeared in the same match for a team in the UEFA Champions League knockout round. And earlier in that same game, Dest and Tillman became the first Americans to start together in a Round of 16 UCL match. 🙌🙌

The U.S. trio did its part in helping the Dutch leaders earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the legendary German side, with Dest constantly proving to be a handful on the left, while Tillman drew the penalty that led to PSV’s only goal of the night. Overall, a night to savor for U.S. fans, with an American trio playing side-by-side-by-side on Europe’s grandest stage. 

Then last Friday, Pepi made his first-ever league start for PSV in their 2-0 win over Heracles to extend their lead at the top of the Dutch table to 10 points.

Beyond their shared levels of success on the field, the three Americans have also become quite close off the pitch this season, as shown in a feature written about them in The Athletic. The levels of respect the three have for each other is apparent throughout the piece.

Tillman on Dest: “He is crazy in some ways. Well maybe not crazy but different from other guys. For example, the red card after Trinidad (in November’s CONCACAF Nations League defeat). He’s not like that at all off the pitch. He’s a good guy. He’s calm.”

Pepi on Tillman: “I knew he was a good player before he came here. But just watching him on the pitch; some of the turns he makes and how aware he is of players around him, his technique, it’s great. He’s great in between the lines and can really give that final ball. Some of the moves he makes it’s like, ‘Woah, I didn’t see that coming’.”

Love to see these levels of friendship and rapport being forged abroad for three of our own. Hopefully this will all pay dividends back home, both during March’s CONCACAF Nations League, and then Copa America in the summer.

Pulisic Back in the Goals, Baby!

After going nearly a month-and-a-half without finding the back of the net, Christian Pulisic 🇮🇹 (25; Hershey, PA) is back in the goals for AC Milan. And back with a banger, at that.

Coming on as a second-half sub at Monza, CP11 found his chance in the 88th minute, gathering the ball on the right side of the box before unleashing a left-footed howitzer (WATCH) that brought back the famous “Come on, baby!” shouts from ecstatic Italian commentators. This after Puli assisted on Olivier Giroud’s goal in the 64th minute (WATCH).

Having gone down to 10 men in the 52nd minute, Milan was unable to get a result on the road, and ultimately lost the match, 4-2. But it’s great to see Puli! Puli! getting Sic! Sic! once more. The Rossoneri remain in third place in Serie A, just two points behind Wes, Weah & Juventus.

Brenden's Bundesliga Bangerfreude:

Life in the German top flight likely hasn’t gotten off to the fast start that the über-speedy Brenden Aaronson 🇩🇪 (23; Medford, NJ) quite would have hoped for. After joining Union Berlin from Leeds on loan in the summer, the USMNT attacker saw his side lose nine of their first 11 matches to start the season, leading the club to part ways with beloved coach Urs Fischer in November. This was followed by rumors that Aaronson’s loan to the German side could be cut short during the January window, which would have sent him back to the English Championship far earlier than expected.

What's the German word for finding joy in another person finding the back of the net? Bangerfreude? We'll go with Bangerfreude.

Aaronson scored for the first time in league play on Saturday, converting a vital 84th-minute match-winner in Union’s 1-0 victory at Hoffenheim. The goal was a poised and confident hit by Garden State Götze (WATCH), which will hopefully give B.A. and his teammates just that going forward.

“It’s been a really tough season. A lot of ups and downs, but I think this is refreshing, and it pushes us and gives us confidence going into the next one,” said the American after the game.

Union Berlin sporting chief Oliver Ruhnert, meanwhile, was very … German? … in his praise of the USMNT player afterwards.

🗣 “​​Brenden is a super footballer who must accept the fact that in football a certain physical aspect is needed to win the ball & contest challenges.”

Here’s to hoping a corner has been turned for Medford Messi either way.

News and Notes:

• Josh Sargent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; O’Fallon, MO) is on NBA Jam levels of fire for Norwich City. The USMNT forward scored a brace in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City, giving him 10 goals in 13 league matches this season — even earning the O’Fallon d’Or (a.k.a. “Third First Michelob Ultra Of The Day”) from Rog himself. Only downside was the goals came at the expense of American keeper Ethan Horvath 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (28; Highlands Ranch, CO), though Horvath was off-the-line superb in Cardiff’s next match, a 0-0 shutout draw with Blackburn on Tuesday.

• Antonee Robinson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (26; Liverpool, ENG) had an assist in Fulham’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday (WATCH). Cottagers are a bit up and down as of late, but it’s tough to find a left back hitting Jedi’s levels these days.

• Griffin Yow 🇧🇪 (21; Clifton, VA), take a bow. DMV Donovan had some hit for the match-winner (WATCH) in Westerlo’s 2-1 win over Standard Liege in Belgium, and is now up to six goals on the season. American teammate Bryan Reynolds 🇧🇪 (22; Fort Worth, TX) also went the full 90 in the win, as De Kemphanen (“Gamecocks”) are up to 10th in the Jupiler Pro League. 🐓

• Johnny Cardoso 🇪🇸 (22; Denville, NJ) was excellent in midfield in Real Betis’ 0-0 draw with Alaves on Sunday, and has now been nominated for the LaLiga U-23 January Player of the Month, alongside the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Lamine Yamal. 🙌

• ESPN NL is reporting that FC Utrecht star Taylor Booth 🇳🇱 (22; Eden, UT) will be out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury suffered in the 22nd minute of Utrecht’s 1-0 win at FC Twente on Sunday. We know you’ll be back in the goals soon, Taylor.

• After back-to-back substitute appearances, Gio Reyna 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (21; Bedford, NY) did not see the pitch in Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.

Parting Shots:

We close with a great story out of England’s third tier, where veteran defender Donovan Pines 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (25; Clarksville, MD) made his debut for Barnsley on Saturday in a 2-1 win at Fleetwood Town. Tykes away fans welcomed the former D.C. United center back by singing “American Boy”, and later showered him with chants of “USA!” over his 30 minutes of substitute shutout play. After going from the University of Maryland, to USL side Loudoun United, to MLS, the USMNT center back with two caps to his name is now getting a chance to cut it abroad, and will look to help fourth-place Barnsley fight their way back to the Championship.

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