Puli, Pepi, and Turner Again 🇮🇹🇳🇱🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

“Mixed emotions. We’re pleased with the result and the performance in the second half. We needed a Dortmund win too but unfortunately it wasn’t to be tonight … The aim was to stay in Europe and we’ve managed to achieve that.”

—Christian Pulisic after Milan’s 2-1 win at Newcastle on Wednesday that saw them finish third in the group, good enough to play on in the Europa League, but not good enough to stay in the Champions League.

Puli again..

This one wasn’t a worldie like his last one. That Frosinone goal from Dec. 2 was a meticulously constructed club banger, a track sure to make his greatest hits compilation. You could feel the beat build (long ball over the top), build some more (sublime first touch), pause (shrug off defenders), and then drop (perfectly weighted chip), sending the dancefloor into ecstasy. DJ CP11 at his best.

This one on Wednesday was punk rock. Messy, fished out of a Northeast England scrum. Find it, smash it, score. Which is what he did. And when they needed it the most. He always seems to deliver these days, no matter the situation. Or genre.

Christian Pulisic 🇮🇹 (25; Hershey, PA), Milan savior again. Scoring in the 59th minute at the Geordie bear pit that is St. James’ Park to pull his side back into the match at 1-1, before Samuel Chukwueze put home the winner in the 84th.

The 2-1 win at Newcastle wasn’t enough to keep Milan in the Champions League. But it was enough to leapfrog the Magpies in the group, and at least continue their European odyssey in the Europa League. Better than nothing. Which is what the Milanese may have, were it not for their frontman from Hershey, Pa.

Pepi again..

PSV also handled their business against a Premier League side in the Champions League this week, thanks to their trio of Americans Abroad.

Ricardo Pepi 🇳🇱 (20; El Paso, TX) got the rare start for the Eindhoveners and had an assist on the Dutch club’s only goal in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Tuesday. El Tren’s goal contribution — which came after scoring in the match prior against Heerenveen — was set up by a beauty of a through ball from Malik Tillman (WATCH), who was so good on the day he left his boss shook. “I found Tillman almost scary, he played so good,” said PSV manager Peter Bosz after the match.

Sergiño Dest 🇳🇱 (23; Almere, NED) also subbed on in the 74th minute, and moments later nearly killed a Gunners left back with some mad tekkers. Much in the same way that compatriot Gio Reyna 🇩🇪 (21; Bedford, NY) was slicing up PSG in the nine minutes (!) of action he saw in BVB’s final group match on Wednesday. As VAMOS legend Herc Gomez put it, kid is stupid good. And it’s high time he gets the heck out of Dortmund.

Turner again..

After getting benched for five games, Matt Turner 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (29; Park Ridge, NJ) was back in the Nottingham Forest XI for their 1-1 draw at Wolves. And was quite solid. Watch his Molineux Mixtape here. Might be a bit before Odysseas Vlachodimos sees the pitch again. Just sayin’.

Auston Trusty 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (25; Media, PA) started at left back for the second straight match — his ninth-straight Premier League start overall — in Sheffield United’s 1-0 win against Brentford. Another solid performance for the American Bladesman. Who was promptly rewarded with a Sheffield snuggie.

Chris Richards 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (23; Birmingham, AL) also got another start at CDM for Crystal Palace in their tough 2-1 loss to Liverpool. Which might not be his best position, but he’s making the best of the opportunity, according to his boss. “Chris Richards I think is doing a wonderful job but he's a center-back having moved into midfield,” said Roy Hodgson. “And I'm pleased with him, but he's not really a classic central midfielder, we don't have one of those."

McKennie’s Week in Quotes:

Weston McKennie 🇮🇹 (25; Little Elm, TX) was mad decent once again in Juventus’ 1-0 win over Napoli on Friday. Which is becoming the norm for the American midfielder. So rather than dissect his play, we’ll let him summarize his week in soundbites. Here’s Wes unfiltered:

• On Juve being in the title mix: “Scudetto? It sounds nice, it is a word that would sound even nicer if we get it at the end of the year.”

• On his role with Juventus: “You could say I’m a Joker in the pack. I put the team first and don’t really care what role I’m playing. Obviously, I have a preferred role, but anything I can do to help the team, I’ll do it.”

• On former Juve teammate Giorgio Chiellini retiring from football: “You were such a leader and great role model in helping me settle in here as well. I wish you nothing but the best and can’t wait to see what the future holds for you! Also can’t wait to see you back in Turin! Your Big Mac.”

And then he and BFF Moise Kean got hit with a fan edit of their training ground antics. Love these gents. Very much worth the watch. And genuinely such a joy to see how well McKennie is getting along in Turin these days. 🇺🇸🤍🖤

News and Notes:

• What’s French for “dropping dimes?” Folarin Balogun 🇫🇷 (22; London, ENG) assisted both of Monaco’s goals in their 2-1 win at Rennes on Saturday (WATCH BOTH)

• From the “If Rafa Benetiz digs your game, you must be doing something right” department, Luca de la Torre 🇪🇸 (25; San Diego, CA) got his third straight league start for Celta Vigo, also their third straight draw in a row. For the La Liga strugglers, this is scorching form.

• John Brooks 🇩🇪 (30; Berlin, GER) got the start in Hoffenheim’s 3-1 win over Bochum Friday. For the record, when Brooksy starts, the 1899ers have a 63.6% win percentage (seven wins from 11 matches).

• Joe Scally 🇩🇪 (20; Lake Grove, NY) was solid once again at right center back in Gladbach’s 3-1 loss to Union Berlin. It was Scally’s fourth straight start at RCB in a back three for the Foals.

• Haji Wright 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (25; Los Angeles, CA) scored his sixth goal of the season in Coventry City’s 1-1 draw with Southampton on Wednesday (WATCH).

• Yale product Kahveh Zahiroleslam 🇧🇪 (21; Saratoga, CA) scored his first goal for St. Truiden in Belgium (WATCH). Up the Bulldogs!

• Reggie Cannon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (25; Grapevine, TX) has two starts and two substitute appearances in QPR’s last four matches, with the West London side getting three wins and a draw in those games. R’s fighting their way out of the relegation zone.

Parting Shots:

A couple of U.S. sticksmen may be returning from overseas duty soon. After an underrated four-year stint with Maccabi Haifa that saw him square up against the likes of Juventus, PSG and other European giants in the Champions League, Josh Cohen 🇮🇱 (31; Mountain View, CA) has been linked to a move to MLS with Atlanta United. Some career for a D-II college product who fought his way from USL to the bright lights of Europe. Similarly, Man City goalkeeper Zack Steffen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (28; Downington, PA) is reportedly close to signing with the Colorado Rapids after four seasons in England with one of the world’s top clubs. Well done by both for grinding it out abroad, and welcome home should their returns go through.