USWNT ratings: Swanson and Davidson open Hayes era in style

Vini Jr has proven he belongs among the world's elite

Miami ratings: Alba goes supersonic in come-from-behind draw

The Ballon d'Or moves ever closer for Vinicius Jr

Adeyemi's missed chances ultimately doom Dortmund

Clubs fear FIFA want to cut Premier League to 18 teams 

Suarez pays tribute to Cavani following international retirement

Reyna announces engagement with touching Instagram post

'Scolded him a little!' - Ancelotti reveals what he told Vinicius

Casey Phair: USWNT hopeful to Korea's World Cup wonderkid

United to deal Arteta a blow by snapping up crucial Arsenal asset

Madrid are inevitable! Carvajal & Vini Jr the UCL heroes

Earps in tears! Lionesses star off injured after seven minutes

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Second opportunity grabbed in Turin</li><li>Key man for club &amp; country</li><li>Challenged to hit even greater heights</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

What USMNT star Weston McKennie must do to become a ‘game-changer’ as American coach Jesse Marsch offers advice to Juventus midfielder

Friendlies

Colombia

The 25-year-old appeared destined to be deemed surplus to requirements in Turin after being allowed to link up with Leeds on loan in the winter transfer window of 2023. He did little to restore his reputation during a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/usmnt-weston-mckennie-benefited-bad-showing-letting-some-people-down-leeds-fresh-start-juventus/bltf59fdd8860ce5af6" target="_blank">forgettable spell at Elland Road that delivered relegation out of the Premier League</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

McKennie has, however, seen the slate wiped clean back in Italy and has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/headless-chicken-joker-pack-how-usmnt-star-weston-mckennie-juventus/bltf36154795439f6f6" target="_blank">grabbed an unexpected opportunity with both hands</a> – becoming a key man for club and country. American coach Jesse Marsch, who <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/unique-to-unfortunate-in-33-minutes-jesse-marsch-reacts-brief-spell-manager-usmnt-star-weston-mckennie-leeds/blt5edd1ac0bdf97f95" target="_blank">took the versatile midfielder to Leeds</a>, has told the ‘Call It What You Want’ podcast for <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/jesse-marsch-praises-usmnts-weston-mckennies-form-with-juventus-he-was-their-most-dangerous-player/ " target="_blank">CBS Sports</a> of what McKennie needs to do in order to hit even greater heights: “Next I think it's just continuing to play a big role in the team, to keep himself fit, to become more and more of a leader, to take more responsibility in how the game plays out and not just focus on exactly what his role is but how to also be the guy in the team that wants the ball, that wants to be the game-changer and he's really close. I think he's playing a big role in Juventus and like I said, I think that's been a big part of why they've been successful and why Weston's fit in so well with [Massimiliano] Allegri, the team and everything else.”

WHAT MARSCH SAID ABOUT MCKENNIE

McKennie has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watch-impossible-usmnt-star-weston-mckennie-reacts-disorganised-vote-juventus/bltd4c9796cf8a41fa5" target="_blank">silenced plenty of doubters</a> at Juventus, with Marsch adding on why he has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/explained-how-ignoring-family-advice-weston-mckennie-usmnt-juventus-star-american-plan-a-europe/blt04ef4e418e13d5e2" target="_blank">won sceptics over</a> in Serie A: “I think they're talking about his fitness level, they're talking about his productivity around the box and helping set up attacking plays and then also his responsibility and intelligence to help out the team defensively. It's crazy. When you watch him in the match, he's in the defensive box. The next moment, he's in the offensive box. He's chasing, he's running, he's winning duels, he's taking throw-ins, he's winning duels on corner kicks and free-kicks so he's playing a big part of the success of Juve this year and it's great to see him playing at such a high level.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

McKennie’s <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/no-christian-pulisic-why-usmnt-stars-missed-out-top-100-footballers-2023-jesse-marsch-explains-elite-snub/blt9e61dbd90e300a64" target="_blank">next cap for the USMNT will be his 50th at senior level</a>, with there every chance that a notable international landmark will be reached at the CONCACAF Nations League finals – before the United States then fill the role of hosts at the 2024 Copa America.

WHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE?

What USMNT star Weston McKennie must do to become a ‘game-changer’ as American coach Jesse Marsch offers advice to Juventus midfielder | Goal.com US

Weston McKennie has been told what he must do in order to become a “game-changer”, with the USMNT star continuing to catch the eye at Juventus.