GOAL US looks at the biggest games for Americans Abroad this weekend, with big fixtures for Ricardo Pepi, Antonee Robinson and others
Every weekend feels important in soccer. There is always something going on, a new storyline to follow, a new player to watch. And while this one is a little different for Americans playing abroad, there is still plenty of intrigue. Let's start with what isn't happening: Christian Pulisic will not play against Juventus on Saturday. That will be a big loss for his side as they push for a Champions League spot under new manager Sergio Conceicao. It's not a make-or-break game, but his loss feels significant.
But there are some of his national teammates in action elsewhere. Antonee Robinson will be in the mix for Fulham and is in the midst of what might be a record-breaking season for . Ricardo Pepi will also play some sort of role for PSV – and is looking to break a month-long scoreless spell in the Eredivisie — he did show promise in scoring a brace in the KNVB Cup midweek. Meanwhile, there should be a timely return for Josh Sargent, as well as more minutes for Chris Richards – who has started to find form for Crystal Palace.
It's all a lot to break down, and other storylines will surely develop. GOAL US previews the main ones in a look ahead for Americans Abroad in Europe this weekend…
AFPRicardo Pepi aiming for more league minutes
When Pepi plays extended minutes, he usually scores. The problem is his minutes and starts in Eredivisie action have been inconsistent.
Pepi has played just 53 minutes in PSV's past two league matches and its Champions League matchup against Brest. He didn't score in any of those matches. In PSV's thrilling 5-4 win over Excelsior in the KVNB Cup, Pepi played the full match and finished with a brace.
Will that be enough to earn more minutes in league play? Even if he's not featuring at the moment, PSV's Sporting Director Earnest Stewart insists the striker is a big part of the club's future plans.
"He has, I guess you can say, been unfortunate, because we also have Luuk de Jong, one of the best center-forwards certainly from a heading standpoint that there is. They have been fighting for playing time, both of them, which has raised their levels to a certain extent," Stewart told GOAL. "At some point, Luuk is, I'd say, not the youngest, still going strong for us at this moment, and hopefully for a little bit longer, but at the same time, we also see that Ricardo, at some point, is going to be the No. 1 for PSV."
If he does play, he will be counted on in a high-pressure situation for PSV. Ajax are creeping into the title race, and are now just four points off the reigning holders. Win tomorrow at PEC Zwolle on Saturday, and PSV could stretch that gap to seven for at least 24 hours. Pepi's performance could be crucial against the 14th-placed side.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportAntonee Robinson chasing Premier League record
The top two assist-getters in the Premier League read mostly as expected. Top is Mo Salah, with 13. Second is Bukayo Saka, who has 10 (although those numbers are admittedly skewed by the fact that he is on corner duty for). But the third, Antonee Robinson, is somewhat unexpected. Robinson, as has been chronicled here many times before, is in the midst of an excellent season. But what seems lost here is just how good he has been going forward. Right now, he has nine assists. If the season ended today, that would put him 11th in a single season among all defenders in Premier League history. He is well on pace to break Trent Alexander-Arnold's record of 13 set in the 2019-20 season.
And that might be more impressive than all of his defensive numbers. It is a prerequisite these days to be a good one-on-one defender as a full back — that's part of the reason so many managers are using center backs in wide positions. But creating is a dying art. Robinson is steadily mastering it. And he seems to be well-placed to add to his tally on Saturday. Fulham are playing struggling Leicester, who haven't won a Premier League game since Dec. 3.
Getty Images SportJosh Sargent ramping up minutes
What to make of Sargent? He's a confusing footballer, these days. He enjoyed an excellent season last year for Norwich, scoring more headed goals than anyone in England not named Erling Haaland. But he hasn't been able to kick on, and after sustaining a groin injury in late October, has been forced to watch from the sidelines for nearly three full months. But he made a brief return in the FA Cup last week, playing a small role off the bench. And after making it through that 10 minutes injury-free, more minutes should be on the way. It won't be an easy one for him to be tossed back into. Sheffield United, Saturday's opponents, are in third in the Championship table, and one point off the league's summit. Sargent will likely be in for another role off the bench as he continues his recovery, but might be able to make a key impact.
More broadly, time is running out here. Pepi has likely seized the starting No. 9 role for the USMNT, and Folarin Balogun will also be in with a shout. Twelve months ago, Sargent might have been one of the favorites to snag the shirt. Now, he's towards the bottom of the pecking order. Mauricio Pochettino has promised equal opportunity for all – he needs to show he can make the most of it.
Getty Images SportChris Richards finding form at the right time
Richards has been waiting a while for some good news. He has been in and out of the XI under Oliver Glasner at Cyrstal Palace, and after a couple of signings arrived last summer, it seemed that the American might be phased out of the side. However, several injuries on the squad of late have given him another chance. And when Chelsea recalled Trevoh Chalobah from his season-long loan at Selhurst Park earlier this week, the door was thrown open in full. Richards has now started four games in a row and seems to be settling in. Another start, this time against a reborn West Ham, is on the cards.