Weston McKennie has gotten back to his best at Juventus following a tough loan spell last season at Leeds United and Massimiliano Allegri knows it.
McKennie has picked himself up after enduring a frustrating loan spell during the second half of last season, one that led to Leeds United’s relegation from the English Premier League. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder has made 18 appearances for the Old Lady this season, registering two assists and logging just over 1,400 minutes of action.
Despite being linked with a transfer away last summer, McKennie stayed in Turin and has since become one of the more important players in Allegri’s squad this campaign. Juventus has certainly reaped the rewards of McKennie’s turnaround, losing just one of 18 league matches so far and sitting two points off of first place Inter Milan.
Ahead of Thursday’s Coppa Italia showdown with Salernitana, Allegri praised McKennie’s growth, and also challenged him to deliver even more during the second half of the season.
“It’s not that he’s changed. He’s grown,” said Allegri prematch. “His experience at Leeds has matured him. He didn’t have a good experience because they were relegated.
“He’s back, still wanting to stay,” Allegri added. “We’re halfway through the season, and he has five more months where he wants to do even more.”
Juventus head into the match as heavy favorites, which very well could lead to a slight rest for McKennie before the resumption of the Serie A schedule this coming weekend.
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