The USA internationalist was given the nod by manager Thiago Motta over Douglas Luiz in midfield, playing alongside Nico Gonzalez and Manuel Locatelli, having been frozen out of the squad over the summer.
McKennie repaid Motta’s faith by grabbing the Bianconeri’s second goal, as Juventus ran out 3-1 winners at the Allianz Stadium with other goals from Kenan Yildiz and Nico Gonzalez.
McKennie’s goal came in the 27th minute, firing inside the right-hand post from point blank range, having been blocked superbly by Joël Drommel minutes earlier to deny what would have been an exquisite team goal.
McKennie’s goal means that he has now leapt past DaMarcus Beasley (4) to become the second highest American Champions League goalscorer of all time.
In his post-match press conference, Thiago Motta reflected on McKennie’s inclusion, saying; “Weston McKennie is a guy who has a lot to contribute in all parts of the game. He has technical abilities, he has physique and occupies space well. Each player needs to raise the level of the next. They are quality players who can play in different positions. That is where our team can grow.”
In The Cooler
It was markedly different words from Motta, who had deemed McKennie surplus to requirements earlier in the summer.
Reports in La Gazzetta dello Sport via Juventusnews24 in June indicated that the former Bologna coach had bluntly told the midfielder that he didn’t fit into his plans next season and to find another club.
It was ironic to see Douglas Luiz dropped in favour of McKennie for the PSV game, after McKennie had been offered to Aston Villa as part of the deal to bring Luiz to Turin.
When the American failed to agree personal terms, Enzo Barrenechea was lumped into the deal instead along with Samuel Iling-Junior and a cash sum.
The Big Thaw
Despite interest from numerous clubs, McKennie failed to find a deal and began the season out in the cold along with several other big names like Federico Chiesa and Wojciech Szczesny who Motta saw no future at the club for.
But as those exiled names were ushered out the door one-by-one, McKennie made it clear that he did not want to move.
An opening would appear in the form of fellow midfielder Fabio Miretti moving on loan to Genoa, pushing McKennie up the pecking order.
McKennie agreed to a one-year contract extension through to 2026 at the end of August, ending months of protracted negotiations after failing to come to an agreement on a new contract during the final weeks of the 2023-24 season.
Despite the new contract, McKennie has still had to bide his time, working hard in training to convince Motta that he deserved another chance.
Prior to Tuesday’s clash with PSV, McKennie’s only appearance of the season so far was a 23 minute cameo off the bench in a drab 0-0 against Roma on Matchday 3.
On Thin Ice
This is not the first time that McKennie has had to scratch and claw his way back into the Juventus team.
Having signed in 2020, McKennie played regularly but never warmed the fans’ hearts in the way he should.
In February 2022, McKennie suffered a metatarsal injury in the Champions League against Villarreal, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
After being medically cleared in January 2023, McKennie was sent on a demoralising loan spell to Leeds United, where he struggled as the Yorkshire side were relegated.
When he returned to Juventus, he found himself in a similar situation to this season, out of favour with manager Max Allegri.
McKennie would again bust a gut in training to prove his worth, and fight his way back into the side, becoming a key player for Juventus as they finished third in Serie A last season and won the Coppa Italia.
In a press conference following a 1-0 win over Roma, Allegri revealed exactly what he had told the American, stating; "How did I transform McKennie? I didn't transform him... I just told him during the summer that he had a great chance of staying at Juventus as long as he started running on July 15 and stopped on May 26."
Where Do The Winds Blow?
Where McKennie fits in at Juventus is the big question after the PSV game. A central midfielder, McKennie is in competition with Douglas Luiz, Manuel Locatelli, Khephren Thuram, and Nicolo Fagioli for a place on the team sheet, with Teun Koopmeiners also able to play in the middle of the pitch.
Speaking to Sky Sport after the game on Tuesday, Motta remained coy about where the USMNT star would be deployed, saying; “I like Weston, like all other players. It was his time to start today. It’s a good result for starting the competition. Now, we must recover for the next game. Weston is part of a strong group.
“The important thing is not my decision. This is my duty. I must field the best 11. I am happy for McKennie. Like all the others, he’s working to improve. The important thing is that the team won today.”
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Motta has been reportedly playing Weston in a new position during training, using him as a winger.
With Francisco Conceição’s muscle injury meaning he is still weeks away from coming back, Nico Gonzalez is left as Juve’s only fit proper right-winger, although Tim Weah can also play on that side if necessary.
Although not a natural winger, McKennie is a very adaptable player, able to slot in wherever necessary and do a job. Under Allegri, Weston was regularly utilised at wing-back, while playing out wide under Sam Allardyce at Leeds.
Whatever his fate at Juventus, there is no doubt that Weston McKennie’s tenacity and work ethic will continue to warm even the coldest of hearts.