Loftus-Cheek backed to ´do the same´ as injured Pulisic for Milan against Red Star

Ruben Loftus-Cheek will replace the injured Christian Pulisic in the AC Milan team for Wednesday’s Champions League home game against Red Star Belgrade, coach Paulo Fonseca has confirmed.

And Fonseca is backing Loftus-Cheek to replicate Pulisic’s impact at San Siro.

Pulisic has eight goals and six assists for Milan in all competitions this season but injured his calf in last week’s 2-1 defeat at Atalanta.

Loftus-Cheek was brought on for Pulisic in that match and will again deputise for the United States international when Red Star visit.

“They are different players with different characteristics, but the role is the same,” Fonseca told reporters. “What I want from Loftus is the same as I want from Christian. We can do the same with Loftus.

“Loftus is a player who carries the ball more. Here in the Champions League, the games are a bit more open, and we have more space for him, and I am confident.”

Milan have nine points from five games in the Champions League, while Red Star are languishing in 31st place with just one win, but that was their thumping defeat of Stuttgart in their last match.

“We are facing a team that won 5-1 against Stuttgart,” said Fonseca. “It will be an important match for us, we want to win and get the three points.

“They are a physical team, they try to play, but their main weapon is the counter-attack – they have three fast attackers. They are a very dangerous team on the counter-attack.”

Milan are in position for the play-off round, but after three straight wins in Europe, their top-eight hopes remain alive.

“I think the most important thing is to win the next one, but I can’t say we don’t think about that possibility,” the coach added.

“But if we don’t win the next one, it will be difficult. Let’s think about the next one, and then we’ll think about the others.”