Injuries

Christian Pulisic has been sidelined for over a month with a hamstring injury that he suffered during the FA Cup final. Chelsea and USMNT fans alike have been eager for the return of the Blues’ new No. 10. The latest Pulisic injury update is a good one and it comes from Captain America himself.

Christian Pulisic: “I’m feeling very good and very ready to play.” pic.twitter.com/yD91i7hEV9

If there is one thing that absolutely sucks about playing soccer or any sport, it is the risk of getting injured. Every time you step on the field there is a chance you can get hurt. Whether it is a pulled muscle, sprained ankle, concussion or, the worst of all, a torn ACL, getting injured is never ideal for anyone. Every injury is tough, but tearing your ACL has got to be one of the most common and horrible injuries that could happen. It may be a biased opinion since I have experienced an ACL tear, but I would take a rolled ankle over hearing that pop any day. 

Fourteen team members and staff of Serie A side Genoa have now tested positive for COVID-19, the club said in a statement on Monday.

Genoa had reported at the weekend that their Denmark midfielder Lasse Schone and goalkeeper Mattia Perin had contracted the virus.

Tottenham manager José Mourinho believes their packed fixture schedule will force them to prioritize the more lucrative Europa League over the League Cup in a bid to avoid further injuries in the squad.

Spurs host Chelsea on Tuesday in the League Cup fourth round, two days before Maccabi Haifa's visit to north London for a Europa League playoff match. Mourinho said the English Football League "made the decision" for him and he had no option but to rotate the squad for the London derby.

AC Milan made it two wins from two as Franck Kessie and Real Madrid loanee Brahim Diaz fired the Rossoneri to a 2-0 win over Crotone on Sunday. But Stefan Pioli will be worried about his striker options after a gruesome Ante Rebić injury suffered in the second half of Sunday’s win.

Rebić, a Croatian striker who scored 12 goals for Milan while on loan last season before making his move permanent, drew a first-half penalty that Kessie converted for a lead at the break. But Rebić only lasted about 10 minutes in the second half after suffering a freak arm injury.

Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan has tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League club said on Monday, making him the third player in the squad to return a positive test in recent weeks.

City winger Riyad Mahrez and defender Aymeric Laporte previously tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month.

"İlkay is now observing a 10-day period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine," the club said in a statement.

On Thursday, we highlighted what was almost certainly the quickest trip to the monitor by any referee in the VAR era. It took the ref less than a second to make a decision. On Sunday, during Brighton’s comprehensive 3-0 win over Newcastle at St. James’ Park, referee Kevin Friend wanted to spend a bit more time watching Yves Bissouma crack Jamal Lewis in the face.