Not many USMNT players can boast a career like Weston McKennie. The center midfielder remains one of the most versatile players in soccer. He can drive forward with the ball, deliver a crunching tackle, and score the odd goal, making him an all-action midfielder. Therefore, his latest performances for Juventus under the new coach Thiago Motta caught the eye of a former Juventus player.

In a post-match analysis of CBS Sports Golazo of the UEFA Champions League matches, Thierry Henry, particularly picked out Weston McKennie’s improvement under the new Juventus coach. “For me, the big change is McKennie and what Thiago Motta did,” mentioned Henry, glad about the turnaround of the box-to-box midfielder.

Ever since he burst onto the scene, the USMNT fans considered McKennie to become a potential world-beater. Yet, his career took a U-turn in the recent season. But with Mauricio Pochettino at the helm, all the focus narrows to a single goal – becoming the first name on the team sheet for the USMNT. And he lately earned it by getting a call-up to the Argentine’s first national squad.

And oh boy, he is certainly on his way to redemption!

With the past coaches putting him at wing back, he nailed a spot in the middle of the park for the Old Lady. Henry continued, “We all know he was a wingback last year. But now, he is a starter for Juve where he likes to play, in the middle of the park. He is often at the end of movements and you have to give him a lot of credit because at times he got under a lot of pressure for the way he behaves. And right now, he is on point and playing for Juve all the time.”

Weston McKennie could bring a bite to Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield

In recent times, the USMNT lacked proper systems. Let alone proper midfielders. The inconsistency in the displays angered the fans. Even the non-commitment shown by the players. They want their team to fight for every ball. But what did they do? Leaving opposition players to run rings around the defense. But it will all transform now.

Significantly, Mauricio Pochettino demands hard work. There is no other way around. If you don’t, you are out of the team. But if you do, he will build the team around you and McKennie has all the right tools.

If one looks at his recent stats, you can see the differences. Playing alongside Nicolò Fagioli and Teun Koopmeiners, these three have probably led the renaissance of the 36x Serie A champions. He contributes well to the defensive side with 50% of tackles won. Likewise, he always looks for a forward pass with a progressive passing distance of 140 yards. This particular stat will help Pochettino, who loves midfielders who link the defense to the attack.

All in all, we can expect fireworks when the USMNT takes on Panama. With Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah, the USMNT suddenly, under a top-class coach, looks like a formidable opposition. Hopefully, they can win some soccer matches to get the fans on their side.