HP Terbaru 2023 – Weston McKennie is going up through the gears at Juventus

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By Graham Ruthven

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There isn’t an outfield position Weston McKennie hasn’t played during his time at Juventus. Last season, the American was used at left back. And right back. And in central midfield. And even as an emergency centre forward. Luciano Spalletti clearly values that versatility, using McKennie in two different roles in last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Pisa.

While McKennie started on the left side, he was shifted over to the right for the second half. It was in this area that the 27-year-old created the opening for Juve’s opening goal, crossing for Pierre Kalulu to bundle home from close range. Not for the first time recently, McKennie’s impact on the match was profound.

Indeed, McKennie has registered three goal contributions in his last six appearances. While some questioned if the American would work well under Spalletti, he has played every minute of every league game under the new manager. McKennie seems to be one of Spalletti’s most trusted figures.

“He’s an incredible guy,” said Spalletti when asked about McKennie’s quality as a player. “He always wins a personal duel with his opponent. You can put him in multiple positions and his skills allow us to change the formation in this period. He has all the qualities to do well anywhere.”

McKennie’s versatility has sometimes been a curse in that the American has never nailed down a consistent starting spot in the Juventus lineup. He played over 2,300 minutes in Serie A last season, but that game time was spread across five or six different positions. McKennie filled in the gaps around other players.

More recently, though, Spalletti has shifted his formation and approach to get the best out of McKennie, deploying the 27-year-old in a hybrid right wing back role. In this position, McKennie operates on the right side out of possession, but will frequently move into a second striker role when the opportunity is there to get forward.

This tactical tweak has harnessed McKennie’s attacking instincts, getting the American into positions where he can impact matches in the final third. It’s a change that has turned the dial for Juventus who have been far too conservative as a team over the past two seasons, maybe longer. 

Spalletti’s Juve are a work-in-progress. While the Old Lady are currently on a run of four wins from their last five league outings, their performances have been uneven. Even against Pisa on Saturday, Juventus were pushed hard in the first half and could have fallen behind before eventually taking control in the final 17 minutes.

Transfer business is expected as Spalletti continues to remodel Juve in his own image. Gonzalo García, Antoine Griezmann, Radu Drăgușin, Marcos Senesi, Leon Goretzka and countless other targets have been linked with the Turin club. Sales, however, could be required before any new additions are made.

Recent reports have speculated McKennie could be among those to make way. Premier League clubs including West Ham have been linked with the midfielder while Roma were believed to be interested last summer. McKennie’s sale could allow Juventus to invest in other areas of their squad, like the forward line.

McKennie, however, has made a habit of proving his doubters wrong. He has been pushed towards the Juve exit door several times over the course of his career there only to force his way back into the first team. This resilience has permitted McKennie to rack up over 200 appearances for Juventus. Only one current squad member has made more.

2026 could be a big year for McKennie. Not only are Juventus chasing the Scudetto, the USA will co-host next summer’s World Cup. McKennie has been a key figure for his national team for a number of years, although Mauricio Pochettino’s recent omission of the midfielder from his squad has raised questions over his place in the side.

For the USMNT, Pochettino sees McKennie as an advanced playmaker, using the 27-year-old as one of his dual number 10s. In this position, there is a lot of competition from the likes of Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna among others. McKennie, however, could be the most rounded midfielder Pochettino has. He will surely feature at the World Cup.

McKennie’s talent has been obvious for a long time, but it’s only now that he is being built around as a central piece at Juventus. Spalletti has a clear vision for the Old Lady’s future and McKennie is a big part of it. The American’s recent performances are evidence of the faith the former Napoli boss has in him. This is McKennie at his best.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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