Both Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have had successful seasons in Serie A, with both players crediting the league for aiding in their development at their respective clubs.
Pulisic and McKennie are gearing up for the final weeks of the Serie A season, kicking off with a clash between AC Milan and Juventus on Saturday. The match between these two top clubs promises to be an exciting showdown as they both look to secure a statement win.
25-year-old Pulisic moved to Serie A last summer and has been a key player for AC Milan throughout the season. With 13 goals and eight assists to his name, Pulisic has been instrumental in Stefano Pioli’s squad, showcasing the freedom he has been given since joining from Chelsea.
As he approaches the end of the 2023-24 campaign, Pulisic commended Serie A and AC Milan for helping him rediscover his best form.
“I’ve actually been surprised with how difficult a lot of the games are in this league,” Pulisic said in an interview with ESPN’s Futbol Americas. “I think it’s been a great test for me.”
“I think a lot of that comes down to just being given the opportunities here,” he added. “I’ve had a lot of time on the field to show what I can do and have been given a creative role and a lot of freedom as well at times, which has been a huge part of getting that self-belief back and growing that confidence.”
After a season on loan at Leeds United, McKennie has bounced back with Juventus this season. Utilized as both a midfielder and wing back by Massimiliano Allegri, McKennie has contributed 10 assists across all competitions.
The 24-year-old recently helped Juventus secure a spot in the Coppa Italia Final in May after defeating Lazio 3-2 on aggregate. Despite previous transfer rumors, McKennie has performed exceptionally for Juventus, who are on track for a top-four Serie A finish, a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, and potentially a trophy lift by the end of May.
“[Serie A] really helped me grow from a tactical and positional standpoint as well,” McKennie mentioned. “I was in Germany before and I was the workhorse. So I think that Italy definitely helped me out that way, because this is a very tactical and defensive league.”
The upcoming match will be the second Pulisic-McKennie duel of the season, following AC Milan’s 1-0 victory over Juventus last October.
