Weston McKennie received a standing ovation from supporters at Casa Juventus in Perth — and then gave one of the most revealing and wide-ranging interviews of his entire Juventus career. Over five substantial chapters, the American midfielder spoke about the Inter test, the new arrivals, his admiration for Yıldız, the lessons of Andrea Pirlo, his silence with Vlahović, his passions beyond football, and the reason he considers himself exactly where he is supposed to be.
“We Know Inter Well — But Our Biggest Opponent Is Ourselves”
On Friday’s pre-season friendly against the reigning Italian champions, McKennie struck the tone of a man who takes nothing for granted but fears no one. “It is a great preparatory match for us — and I think it is also what the supporters want to see. But ultimately we want to understand how we function together, see how the new players integrate, and how we respond to that challenge. We know Inter well. We face them continuously in the league. It will be exciting and I think we are ready.”
When asked whether Inter remain the Scudetto favourites, his response was politely but clearly competitive. “Our job is to concentrate on our game, on what we want to do, and go onto the pitch and change the perception people have of us.” On what Juventus are still missing to challenge for the title: “Six years here have taught me it is simply about taking care of the small details — converting our chances, closing matches when we are ahead, and above all finding continuity throughout an entire season. The coaching staff keep hammering the same message: our greatest opponent is ourselves.”
On the Europa League: “We qualified, so our objective should be to try to win it. And obviously we want to qualify for the Champions League — whether by winning the Europa League or finishing in the top four in the league.”
“Kolo Muani Is Just a Good Guy — He Knows What Juventus Needs”
McKennie’s enthusiasm for the summer’s new arrivals was genuine and specific. “Many of them I already knew or had played against. Against one or two I played at the World Cup, against another I played last season in the league. And Kolo — yes, he is simply a good person. He has settled into the dressing room very well. He knows what Juventus means and what Juventus needs. I think he is ready to provide those things.” On Alajbegovic and the others: “They all know how great Juventus can be and how great it must be. Otherwise they would not have been identified as targets if we didn’t think they could help us. We are all very curious to see how they perform during the season.”
On Yıldız: “He is a special player — we have seen that across the seasons he has been with us. Being the number ten of Juventus means being capable of creating something from nothing, of being decisive in important moments. He is still young and still growing in that sense. But a player cannot do everything alone. Those of us with more experience try to push him and help him understand the position he is in and the responsibilities it carries. I think he is doing a very good job. He can go wherever he wants to go. He has the quality and the ability.”
Pirlo’s Secret: “Something I Have Never Forgotten”
The most resonant passage of the interview — the one that explains everything about McKennie’s extraordinary loyalty to this club — came when he was asked about his longevity at Juventus. “Being here for six years and starting what I believe is my seventh season is a dream coming true. When I arrived at Juventus there were players like Bonucci, Chiellini, Buffon, Ronaldo, Dybala — and I learned enormously from all of them.”
The Pirlo moment was the centrepiece. “It is something I learned from Pirlo when I arrived. He told me something that has stayed in my mind ever since: any player can have the good fortune to arrive at a club like this and stay for one or two years. But it is only the truly professional players, those capable of performing consistently day after day, who manage to remain at a club like this for five, six, or seven years. It is something I have carried in my head for a very long time.”
He also revealed his childhood idol: “I know not everyone will want to hear me say this — but my idol was Francesco Totti, above all for his loyalty. And of course Del Piero too: remaining so long at a club like Juventus, with all the pressure it involves, is not easy. It is one of the most important things I aspire to.”
“Spalletti Is Probably My Favourite Manager of My Entire Career”
On the manager who has given him a new lease of life: “Spalletti is probably my favourite coach of all those I have had in my career. And I do not think it is simply because I perform well under him. It is above all the way he allows me to play. He understands what kind of player I am and gives me the freedom to read the match, interpret what I see on the pitch, and play accordingly. He allows me to do that. And then he has a fantastic personality. In America we would call him a ‘player’s coach’ — one who knows when to reprimand a player and when to lift the atmosphere with a joke. I was very, very happy when he decided to stay and when the club decided to keep him. He is one of the most important reasons why I wanted to remain here.”
The Silence with Vlahović — and a Moment of Class
The section of the interview that will be discussed most widely concerned Dušan Vlahović — his former teammate, whose departure from the club has been one of the summer’s most prominent stories. Three years ago, footage of McKennie teaching Vlahović to throw an American football went viral. Asked whether the two had been in touch, McKennie was honest and compassionate in equal measure.
“No, I have not written to him since I got back. We have been extremely busy. And I also think this is the moment for him to focus on himself and understand what he wants to do. I am not the type of person who wants to be the hundredth person sending messages asking ‘What will you do? Where will you go? What will happen?’ I know how it feels when you receive a hundred different messages from people constantly asking you these things. When he has clarified his situation and done what he needs to do, I will send him a message to congratulate him on whatever decision he has made, wish him good luck, and hope to see him somewhere on a pitch.”
Beyond Football: Piano, Lego, and a Dream of the NFL
McKennie’s final revelation was perhaps the most endearing. Asked who he is beyond football, he answered with characteristic openness: “I am always saying I am much more than just a footballer. I have three dogs. I love music. I like to play the piano — I cannot read music, I tried once and thought ‘No, I cannot do this’. I play from memory. I like to draw and colour. I buy those pre-made colouring books and colour them in. I love films. I love Lego. When I am not at the training ground or travelling for football, I try to disconnect mentally — to be simply myself.”
And if not a footballer? “I think I would have been a firefighter. Or I would have played in the NFL. One of the two.” He added that he follows the Washington Commanders in the NFL and Texas State’s American football team — his nephew Cordarian Powell plays there as a cornerback. “He is bigger and stronger than me at 20 years old. He is like a little brother. I always tell him: ‘You just need to get to the NFL — because when I stop playing football, I will travel around watching you play. That will be my retirement.'”
