Weston McKennie has tried to ease Luciano Spalletti's situation, which has inevitably become more complicated after Juventus' heavy defeat to Genoa. The American midfielder, who, like the vast majority of his teammates, is struggling on the pitch in terms of performances, has put more emphasis on the team's responsibilities than those of the coach, referring almost to a kind of helplessness to change the situation. Wes has somehow opened the doors of the dressing room to everyone, at least virtually, showing that, despite internal discussions, even harsh ones, the Juventus group is once again falling apart on the pitch.
McKennie confirms Juventus' problems
Beyond tactical issues or coach Spalletti's choices, according to McKennie, the current Juventus problem is another. This team seems to play without soul and without the necessary sporting aggression, a reality that makes no sense to deny. "It's ugly to watch and to play. We have to do more, run, fight, give more on the field and sacrifice more for our teammates," declared the American.
Of course, the coach's responsibilities cannot be ruled out, but for McKennie the main problem lies not with his choices, but with the attitude of the players. "You can talk about all the tactical issues, but on the pitch we are 11 players. The battle is fought on the pitch," he stressed.
What do football players say to each other in the locker room?
After so many missteps, how is it possible that Juventus players fail to show that extra dose of grit that could help turn the situation around and save this cursed season? The most worrying part is that the players know what the team is missing, but, nevertheless, their attitude on the pitch does not change. “We try to do things and talk in the dressing room, to bring energy and give more. But, when you go out on the pitch, there is no more room for words. We have to act, each and every one of us. That's it,” McKennie explained.
He repeated the same concept first to Sky and then in the mixed zone, where journalists interview players after the match: "Tactics have nothing to do with this. There are 11 players on the pitch and those five or ten metres make the difference. You need aggression to close the match, to finish the action, to run back into defence and fight for your teammate."
McKennie like Bremer, but the responsibility is everyone's
His words echo Bremer's worrying statements after the heavy defeat against Lazio. However, unlike the Brazilian, McKennie speaks in the first person plural, putting himself in the spotlight when it comes to his attitude and commitment on the pitch. The clearest summary of his thoughts is found in one sentence: "There are things that the coach cannot train. There are things that we have to find within ourselves."
They are clear concepts, but also more worrying, in trying to explain Juventus' problems. Despite various tactical schemes and changes in the composition of the team, the Bianconeri are failing to be truly competitive on a consistent basis.
