McKennie: ‘Juventus role more central, but I always work for the team’ | OneFootball

Weston McKennie confirms his tactical role for Juventus against PSV Eindhoven will be ‘more central,’ but whichever position he takes, his job is always the same. ‘I work for the team.’

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

It is the first leg in the Champions League play-off for a spot in the Round of 16, where the winners will take on either Inter or Arsenal.

The second leg is in the Netherlands on February 19.

McKennie the everyman for Juventus

Weston McKennie of Juventus scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Juventus and Manchester City at Juventus Stadium on December 11, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“As the coach said, this game is very important because we are at home, a win is very important for us to go forward in the Champions League,” McKennie told Sky Sport Italia.

The USMNT midfielder scored the last time these sides met in the group phase, when Juve emerged 3-1 winners in September.

“PSV are a strong team, we had problems in the last game, but we hope to play well today with hunger, sweat, hard work and everything needed to win.”

McKennie has played in numerous different positions so far this season under Thiago Motta, from a midfielder to a winger, then a left-back and currently replacing Teun Koopmeiners as a trequartista in the trio supporting centre-forward Randal Kolo Muani.

“My role is the same as always, I work for the team,” smiled the American.

“We all work just for the squad, whether it’s as a full-back or a trequartista. I’m more central today, the team always wants to press forward, but we need to do it united as a group.”