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Americans Abroad Player of the Week: Weston McKennie

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It was an important week for Weston McKennie, who started in both of Juventus’ matches, including Sunday’s Serie A headliner against Inter Milan, to reassert his place in Massimilano Allegri’s plans.

McKennie started in Juve’s UEFA Champions League win against Zenit St. Petersburg, going the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory that helped keep the Bianconeri in first place in their group, ahead of Chelsea. Allegri gave McKennie the start in Sunday’s Serie A showdown with Inter, which finished in a 1-1 draw, with McKennie playing 82 minutes.

Though he hasn’t had the attacking impact so far this season that he had last season under Andrea Pirlo, McKennie has continued to play his way into the starting lineup, with Juventus steadily climbing back toward the top of Serie A.

McKennie wasn’t the only American to enjoy a good week overseas. Here is a look at the top Americans Abroad performers of the past week:


Brenden Aaronson


The USMNT midfielder started in both Red Bull Salzburg wins this week, an important 3-1 triumph over Wolfsburg in Champions League and a 4-1 Austrian League table-topping victory over Sturm Graz. Aaronson finished with a game-high four key passes in the win against Wolfsburg,


Sergiño Dest


Last week’s Americans Abroad Player of the Week had another solid week, starting in both of Barcelona’s matches. Dest was deployed as a right winger in both cases, including in the 1-0 Champions League win against Dinamo Kiev. He recorded an assist late in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid.


Christian Ramirez


There is no more in-form American striker in Europe at the moment than Ramirez, who scored the game-winning goal for Aberdeen in Saturday’s 1-0 win vs. Hibernian, which helped snap Aberdeen’s five-match losing streak. Ramirez has scored in three of his past four matches, and has recorded four goals and an assist in his past seven matches.


Tim Ream


It was a memorable week for Ream, who put together two of his best performances of the season in a pair of shutout victories for Fulham, over Cardiff (2-0) and Nottingham Forest (4-0). The Cottagers have moved up to second place in the League Championship, helped in large part by Ream’s steady play this season.


Which Americans Abroad performer impressed you the most last week? Who didn’t make our list that you feel deserved some accolades?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Turkmenbashy,

    For sure. I’d love him to stay and become a big star at Juve.

    Partly because I want a top American at a club like Juve, and in Italy ( so I can have an excuse to see him play there someday) but also because I do believe if Weston could focus he can be the nearest thing to Vidal that Allegri is going to get anytime soon.

    Reply
  2. All the comments here were exactly my observations as well. A lot of times these articles praise Mckennie for starting and playing the full 90. He must be more productive if he wants to stay in Juventus. He always does these one touch one passes instead of hold up play assessing and making the right pass. Hopefully he improves cause the coach is giving him the chances to show.

    Reply
  3. He was kind of under the radar in the first half, but made an impact in the second. He got into good positions at the top of the box. Twice leading passes that could have led to chances were a bit off, like a foot too far. Then about 3 times he got the ball in a good position and immediately passed it out when he might have been able to turn and shoot (the TV shot was from a distance so it was hard to say for sure). The one time he did that he was closely marked and the shot was blocked. One criticism I have of his play is when he makes long passes to switch play from one side to the other, I think he chooses the wrong time to do it. He usually does it when he is in the final third and the defense is set. Thus, by the time his teammate gets the ball (his passes are very accurate) the defense has time to shift and adjust because of how long the ball is in the air. He would be better off making the pass early in an advance when the opposition is still backpedaling. I think it is a good sign of progress that my criticism of a US player is about what are kind of needed marginal improvements.

    Reply
    • Allegri is giving Weston a run.

      The more he plays then the more okay he is with Allegri.

      The less he plays, the less okay he is with Allegri.

      That seems to be the main indicator with Allegri.

      Weston should strive to be Allegri’s new Arturo Vidal, an excellent role model for the kind of player Weston could become if he’s lucky and works hard.

      Reply
      • Allegri is playing him because he got told by management last week that there is no money for the Monaco guy. We will see if Weston can have an impact and become indispensable… or if he goes. He was quiet for much of that Inter game and he needs to finish those passes. Juve fans want wins, not works in progress and Allegri is under huge pressure. If Weston performs, Allegri will play him, because it is Allegri’s job on the line.

      • Turkmenbashy

        “Allegri is playing him because he got told by management last week that there is no money for the Monaco guy.”

        Why doesn’t Allegri just buy Lletget then? He should be affordable.

        Who cares why Allegri is really playing Weston? Does Allegri really rate Weston, is he just giving Weston more rope to hang himself or there just no alternative?

        All Weston has to do make sure he takes advantage.

        Because if he plays well, even if Allegri’s love for him is not pure and sincere, then either Allegri will be forced to play him more or he’ll get more interest from better suitors.

        It’s all good for Weston as long as he produces.

      • For sure. Weston needs to produce with these opportunities. To some extent I would agree, but as a Juve and USMNT fan, I want him to stay at Juve.

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