Milan MUST Keep Pulisic! Inside Juventus’ 'McKennie Zone' 😎

Football Italia

Pulisic and McKennie: Milan must keep Pulisic, Juventus must make the most of McKennie’s versatility

The video discusses Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie’s roles at Milan and Juventus as Serie A returns and both return to fitness. The panel argues Milan should keep Pulisic long term and restore him to his best, while McKennie’s versatility and character make him valuable at Juventus, though his best role is still central midfield and both teams must rotate carefully in a busy run.

✅ Subscribe To The Channel for More Videos: / / footballitalia ✅ Important Links: 👉 Website: https://football-italia.net/ 🔥 Serie A is back after a lengthy international break, and Lorenzo Bettoni is joined by Matt Santangelo to discuss two American stars who could make a major impact in the months ahead: Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. Neither player has had a smooth start to the campaign, with injuries disrupting their momentum and limiting their influence in the opening weeks of the season. However, both are returning to full fitness and are expected to become increasingly important for their clubs as the season gathers pace. Lorenzo and Matt compare the Milan and Juventus stars, from their versatility and tactical intelligence to the energy and balance they bring to their teams. They also look at why both players remain crucial to their coaches' plans despite challenging starts to the season. The discussion then turns to Pulisic's future at Milan. With his current contract set to expire in June 2027 and the Rossoneri holding an option to extend it by a further year, the panel examines what lies ahead for the USMNT star. ✅ Stay Connected With Us: 👉Instagram: / @gazzettafootballitalia 👉 (X)Twitter: https://x.com/footballitalia

Transcript

New day, new video here on the Football Italia YouTube channel. Syria returns this weekend and I want to take a look at the influence that we expect from two key American players, Christian Pulisik and Westo Mckenni. [music] [music] >> Joining me today, I've got Matt Santangelo. Matt, thank you so much for joining me. It's always a pleasure to be on with you and uh speak to your audience over here with Lorenzo. >> So the colors behind you suggest we've got to start with Christian Pulizic. Um the today's video is about him but is about West McKenna as well because uh we know they are key players for UV and Milan. So far they haven't had much of an impact mostly because of fitness issues only because of fitness issues I would say. Uh so let's start with Purizik. He didn't play with uh uh the USA team during the break. He remained in Milano. He wasn't part of the team. He continued to train um with the Rossoni. There have been talks obviously about his contact extension as well because technically his deal runs out in um 2027, but we know there is an option for Milan to extend until 2028. Yet there want to sit down to discuss a new deal. We'll discuss all that as well. Uh but now we go with after a long break there is a long stretch of games for all teams especially those involved in European competitions. Milan and you as well have nine coming up before the next international break in in mid November. So is do you expect Pulisic to be the extra weapon for Milan in these next nine games? >> I do. I think you know not only do they need Pulysic to be Pulysic right the player that you know through the first I don't know two and a half seasons in Italy for him was one of the best most I guess efficient producing attacking players right we we know the numbers he put up double digit goals and assist in each of his first two seasons had a really good start last year and then things fell off a cliff in the second half and obviously you know a bit more light was casted on that because of course he elected to sit out the prior summer for the Gold Cup with US men's national team and then he had a a falling off a cliff in the second half as obviously Milan did make Champions League and then didn't have the World Cup that you know US fans would have hoped for. So I think that now with him being should be rested should be 100% right we know he was sort of eased into the equation under Ruben Amarim this year but in the moments where he did play we saw glimpses right the game against Latio made an impact off the bench he had his first goal which was a fantastic goal first touch gets the goal there to get Milan going against Leche I think now we're going to start to see that type of player again and I think ultimately Milan really desperately need that right lay's out of the equation you have makers out CE's doing well but is still a kid and we're still waiting on what happens with Amari Hutchinson and some of these other players in skilled positions. So I think Pulysic needs to be the Pulysic of old because I think ultimately that will help Gonzalo Ramos be a bit more of an influence as far as goal production is concerned. >> Uh it's interesting because um Amore plays uh is slightly changing system against against Lech in the last game before the break. So, uh, Pulizik will be either the central the attacking midfielder or one of the two attacking midfielders. Um, I think with the old system which we'll see if Amor will use again. Um the best thing for Dilov attacking football would be see puliz alongside alaja whereas so far um amorim has mostly used let's say one creative attacking midfielder alongside a kind of central midfielder adapted to the attacking midfielder role. >> This is the case for example for rubelov to seek or um or raio as well. But I think the quality if you watch I mean watching the first goal uh Pisik scored against Leche you can you can immediately have a glimpse of why he's so important for Milan. He's he's the man who make things happen and uh and I think it'll be very important to have a motivated and uh uh because he he's some somebody who will always make the difference as you said uh double digit for goals and assist until last season. Last season he still had double digits for for goals. Um I I will uh show the quotes um read the quotes from his um his recent meeting with um with the fans shortly. Um do you feel uh there is a desire as it appears from from Pulizik to stay at Milan long term? I do I I think that you know I think that we have to be careful with a lot with a lot of times um the reports or speculation that comes out in the media right we heard off the back of last year you know Pulik struggled non struggled as a collective and we sort of bought into this mass exit mass exodus of all their top players everyone's going everyone's leaving they don't believe in the project and we we heard from multiple sources that kind hold up with committing to Milan as last year it was brought up was he wanted to see what the project looked like and I think with layout of the equation I think that kind of propels Kulusk to a more prominent more key role more influential role within this team obviously we know why he was brought in he's a fantastic marketing asset but he also is a great player when he is fit and I think with with layout being out of the equation with Pulysic being sort of in that prime of his career where this is probably his last big contract in Europe in my opinion before he goes to MLS, which was something floated around this past summer with New York City FC being interested in offering them a ton of offering him a ton of money. So, I think one more contract I think is probably what we're going to see here and then obviously things can change, but I think that's sort of the the the mindset I have with Pulik. I think Neon definitely do need to keep him. This is a player that has been a very consistent player and I think you know you do need something in this project that can identify with the fan base. They see Pulysic. They see the influence they want to have in the US market and I think he's the perfect player for that despite having a struggling second half last year. >> War said during his meeting with the uh fans and the media um over the last few weeks as I said he remained in Milan to train to train with his club. Bes said it was a big relief for me um to get a goal. was his first in 2026 for Milan which is crazy to think one year ago he was he had had such a great start to the season that we' never imagined to be here say he has only scored one goal in 2026 but he says I always always want to play um I'm not angry or mad with Ruben Amore obviously but I always want to play then again I was also coming back from these injuries so now I feel I feel good and regarding the contact extension he said I'm not thinking about the contract renewal but I'm very happy here and I want to stay at Milan. Today's um update from Gazetta is that um Jerry Cardini is coming uh to Milan. He'll be in Milanello on Saturday and then at the M stadium stadium on Sunday to watch the game, but he will also oversee uh the club's operations because Milan are planning to sit down with Pulizic agents as well as those of Rabier and Pavlovich to discuss new deals. uh the situation with pool we said already contract expiring in 2027 there's an option that Milan obviously want to activate into uh to extend until 2028 but obviously when you are in this situation you're talking about probably the most important player in the team you want to sit down with him and you want to have a proper new contract not just using the option to extend that you have because otherwise it shows that either you or the player can uh don't entirely agree on the long-term process then that they see ahead. So, um, Milan have to sit down with him and discuss a new contract beyond 2028 as well. We're talking about a player who had 40 43 goals and 28 assists in 137 games with Milan. Moving not too far away from Milan, we go to Tin Mat, another American player, Western McKenna. Similarly to Christian Purizik, he hasn't had a bright start because of fitness issues. Um there's an interview a very good one from from Luchanos Paleti who he gave to Tutto Sport last week talking about Mckenni as well which I will mention later on. Um it's different from Pulizik because you know Pulizique can play as an attacking midfielder as a right winger as a left winger but you know he can play in the final third for me is entirely different like mechanic can something said he can play everywhere. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I think you know it's it's it's been very interesting to see Weston McKenny's transformation from when he came over to Juventus, right, where you know there is still this perception that when you purchase a US player, right, that it's oh it's they're just getting him in for marketing and obviously you know if you you you get an opportunity to play for a club like Juventus like Milan Bulysic and we've seen other American players in this league. It has to be more than that. those clubs are not bringing in players like this and occupying a spot in the team if you're just going to be a market employee. And I think what yeah >> is very fascinating with West McCain since he's arrived in Juventus is the fact that he's been able to reinvent himself, reinvent his game under many different coaches, >> three, four, five times. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and and he's always every single time we've had conversations, I've spoken with people, you know, in in US media, radio shows and stuff like that, they're always asking, "What's going on with West Mckenni? Do you think he stays? Do you think he goes?" Because Juventus have been changing their coaches quite a bit lately since he's been there. And he just seems to keep reinventing himself to play wherever is needed. And I think that's a mark of a of an unselfish player. But this is a player that has scored Champions League goals. He's been played as a wing back. He's played in all the midfield roles. He's played up front as a striker, right? Like, so, and he's produced like you haven't seen a massive decline or drop off in production and performance. So, I think it speaks to the type of player he is, but also the type of character he is. Because if you're someone who is in a prominent role for the US men's national team like he is, you're you might have a little bit of an ego and say, "Oh, I'm not a wing back. I'm not I'm not playing wing back. I'm going to be resistant to that." Or, you know, I'm not a striker. Like, I'm a midfielder. What do you think is his best role for for the national team? >> I think his best role is as a traditional central midfielder because I think I like the engine. I like what he's able to do with those late runs into the box. He scores goals. He has a good knack for for for good finishing. So, I think that that's where I'd like to keep him. Obviously, you know, you play him and kind [clears throat] of float him around throughout the game, right? As a bit of a tactical chess piece because he can play in multiple roles, but I think traditionally you want him in the midfield. And I think you know as he gets reintegrated back into this team, Spalti is going to put him in one of those midfield roles because Juventus also needs some support in that area with of course Locatelli being out and you know them being a little bit thin to begin with coming into the season there. >> What palleti said about Mckenni interview with Tutto Sport last week? He said we created the western zone because he knows every inch of the pitch. The videos we put together already reveal a great deal about his character and his personality. He's wonderful, a vibrant person who naturally shows who he is. And beyond Spleti's words, um, Mcken in his three games with injuries against Parma, Milan, and Sasolo so far this season, played three games against frozen and neck and Atlanta. While in each of these three games, he played in his different role because he was an attacking midfielder against frozen, a left midfielder against neck, and center midfielder against um against Atlanta. Um and you're right. You said he reinvented himself so many times and it's true. I remember we went out on loan for six months under Maxleri or um with um with Igor Tudor initially wasn't part of the of the plan with Ma sorry wasn't part of the plans then he returned with Tudor it wasn't used much just a year ago and then when Spali arrived some somebody clicked immediately we're talking nine goals and nine assists in 40 in 40 games for Mckenni under Luchano Spaleti and there's an interesting thing that Spali said about the next player he Simony Perota, Italy World Cup winner in 2006. He is a player who started from the left but then would move towards the center of the pitch as well. He was the prototype of players that Spali likes. Another thing that the Juventus coach said is that um versatility is the new specialization in football. Knowing the entire pitch is now a master and Perota used to do exactly the same. Nasali has the same type of of player in western Mckenni. Juventus have the next game against Keri away while Milan and Christian Pulizik will will visit Solo. What do you expect from those two games to finish off here some Matt? >> I mean I expect some minutes for sure. I mean you know you might sort of see some easing in. Um, it's a bit of a case where I think that maybe Juventus could, you know, you'll be afford to play him maybe 30 minutes off the back end of the match and, you know, not not feel like they need to rush him back into into the squad to to play from the start, right? Right out of the international break, right? Because I think, you know, it's important that we we highlight, you know, what Pulysic said um when he came over to to Italy was, you know, everyone was saying, well, he's healthy. he all of a sudden he wasn't healthy in in England but he's like I need to play consistently playing is what's better for me versus the stop and go like playing once and having to go and give you 100% in two three weeks time so I think that that's going to be very important and especially with Juventus having a lot of injuries right so the way Spleti integrates Weston into playing those like high intensity minutes I think it's going to be very key because like Milan October is a very busy month and he's looking at some of these fixtures in the Europa League and the high-end ones when it comes to SEA and is is going to have to to juggle with the competing priorities. But as far as performances are concerned, I think we're going to see what what the West McKenna that we saw last year, which was again a very versatile player that is popping up in the right areas. You're winning the ball, but also is a threat to score. How about Milan? It's interesting because I think this is this is going to be a very testing month for Amarim and Milan, right? They they have it's not even like seven, eight fixtures in a month. It's more condensed than that. They're playing every like two to three days it feels like. And they just lost Alexa Makers. This was a team >> nine games in less than a month, >> right? And they they came into this season >> looking a little bit thin and perhaps unfinished from the market. and now you have an injury and now you have certain players that you're still trying to figure out where they will all work. That's where I think it's going to be very fascinating to see if Amrim gives that clearance and that runway to the Kamaras, the Komoto who we really haven't seen much at all, you know, this this batch of games. So, I think the rotation side of it's going to be very fascinating for Amaran because, you know, you have to at this point. You can't keep trotting out the same players every two to three days and, you know, hope that no one gets injured. That that's not sustainable. And you'd have to show faith in some of these other bench players like Omari Hutchinson, for example, to to come into these games and say, "Hey, like this is your opportunity. Show me something." >> Matt, thank you so much. Times up. Uh, Syria returns this weekend. videos on the football Italia channel will return on Monday when we review all the Syria action and we start taking a look at the Champions League and Europoly games. Thank you very much, Matt. >> Thank you, Ch. >> Speak soon. Have a good weekend. See you later.