USMNT Tracker: Pulisic's pivotal pass and Trusty's title-winning heroics

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Welcome to this week’s USMNT Player Tracker. It probably wasn’t the explosive return to form he would have wanted. But as a late step back towards the influence he normally asserts in Serie A, Pulisic will have savoured his assist for Milan on Sunday. The Rossoneri kept their hopes of securing Champions League football on track with a 2-1 win over Genoa. And although he did not start the game, and only came on as a 76th-minute substitute, the USMNT attacker made a crucial intervention five minutes after he came on with his alert pass for Zachary Athekame to score Milan’s second. It was an especially important goal because Milan almost threw away their lead when Genoa equalised on 86 minutes, and then piled on the pressure. But Milan clung on — and the final burst of action involved Pulisic playing a one-two with Niclas Fullkrug and then almost scoring with a fierce shot from a tight angle that Genoa’s goalkeeper, Justin Bijlow, did well to keep out. “We haven’t achieved anything yet. There is one more game to play on home turf against Cagliari, and we hope to do it then,” head coach Massimiliano Allegri told DAZN Italia. “I have to thank my players, those who work and have to stay close to me, who have to put up with me. There is a week to go before the objective is secured.” Milan’s website after the game had an extra lift for their American star. It noted that the assist meant Pulisic is the only Serie A player who, since his debut in the tournament (2023-24), has scored more than 30 goals (31) and provided more than 20 assists (21) in the league. There still haven’t been any of the former in 2026, but with one game to go and the World Cup looming, Pulisic will take any morale boost he can get. Mauricio Pochettino was handed two injury scares in the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures. There were knocks for Aaronson and Richards during their games for Leeds United and Crystal Palace, respectively. The sight of both players leaving the field with problems will have given Pochettino a headache, only partly soothed by words from club managers Daniel Farke and Oliver Glasner afterwards. Glasner suggested that Palace and USMNT centre-back Richards had a twisted ankle, which was swollen, but then hinted he may be ready to return to training in the week. Pochettino will hope the 26-year-old is not rushed back with Palace’s final home game of the season, which only offers the chance of finishing 14th at best. Richards will, of course, be desperate to recover for the Conference League final a week on Wednesday against Rayo Vallecano. If anything, Aaronson’s response to his own setback will remind the U.S. head coach of the player’s committed attitude. “It was just a dead leg,” Farke said of Aaronson’s injury. “He was, even at half-time, on the bike trying to keep going. It normally just lasts a few days, but it was getting tighter and tighter. He should be alright for the next game.” For Trusty, it was a jubilant and absorbing finale to his season with Celtic. The USMNT defender, who took The Athletic around Glasgow for an enthralling chat in the build-up to his team’s big title decider with Hearts on Saturday, was celebrating this weekend. He helped ensure Celtic beat the team who have led the table for so long, ending Hearts’ fairytale and asserting the Glasgow side’s dominance over Scottish football once again. It was Celtic’s 56th title, and Trusty’s second in the two seasons he has been at Celtic Park. “To come out on top is amazing, what a season,” he told Celtic TV after the 3-1 win. “I think putting all of this here into perspective, yes absolutely it was my best season, behind the scenes there’s been highs and lows, but for everyone here to come together in the past few days and win this game is fantastic. “The guys have been amazing and amazing mentally as well. Even in the build-up, where we are we’ve felt the excitement from everyone and the pressure. “Wherever I’ve been walking outside I have felt it, and the fans have been amazing.” In Germany, it was a disappointing weekend for two American midfielders. Overall, Malik Tillman can look back on the season with some satisfaction, especially his Champions League outings for Bayer Leverkusen (he impressed in a win over Manchester City and scored a brace against Villarreal), but ultimately they will be frustrated at missing out on Champions League football. Leverkusen had to beat Hamburg on Saturday and hope other results went their way to climb into the qualification spots. But they could only draw 1-1 and had to settle for a spot in the Europa League, as Tillman started the game only to be replaced just after an hour. James Sands’ season had already been ended by a bad ankle injury that required surgery in March. And his side, St. Pauli, were relegated after losing 3-1 at home to struggling Wolfsburg on Saturday. American midfielder Kevin Paredes, who has also had an injury-ravaged campaign, was an unused sub for the winners. But Wolfsburg now face a relegation play-off tie with Paderborn to save their Bundesliga status. Borussia Monchengladbach ended their season on a high, with a 4-0 home win over Hoffenheim that allowed Gio Reyna, fresh from his goal last weekend, to get onto the field as a 67th-minute sub. Compatriot Cole Campbell also came on in the second half for the visitors. See if Tyler Adams can help Champions League-chasing Bournemouth have a say in the Premier League title race, when the south coast side play Manchester City on Tuesday (2:30pm, Peacock Premium). Then, for the English top-flight finale on Sunday, all eyes will be on whether Aaronson and Richards have recovered to feature for their teams. Leeds sign off in a potentially dramatic game at relegation-battling West Ham United (11am, Peacock Premium) while Palace could also be involved in a game with huge repercussions as they face Arsenal (11am, Peacock Premium). Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms