USA’s Weston McKennie has admitted to having ‘let certain people down’ during his forgettable loan spell at Leeds last season, after being unable to prevent the Whites from being relegated.
The 25-year-old midfielder has been finding his feet at Juventus this season under manager Massimiliano Allegri, since he moved back to Italy during the summer.
He has played in all 12 of the club’s Serie A games so far this season and is integral part of the U.S. men national team’s starting lineup, playing all 90 minutes in the first leg of the Star and Stripes’ CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Trinidad and Tobago.
But, earlier this year, the Washington native faced the wrath of Leeds fans after only registering an assist, while also picking up seven yellow cards, in 19 Premier League matches, as the Yorkshire club’s bid to avoid relegation was ultimately unsuccessful.
Leeds ended up second-bottom of the 2022-23 season, with the likes of McKennie and two other Americans on the team, midfielder Tyler Adams, and forward Brenden Aaronson.
U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie, 25, has played all 12 of Juventus’ Serie A matches this year
‘I didn’t have the best performances. I felt I let certain people down,’ McKennie told Sky Sport Italia of his enduring time in England.
‘But at the end of the day, when I came back, I think it was important for me in general to have an experience like that, to have that happen to me at this moment of my career, because when I came back it felt like I was coming back here for the first time again.
‘When I first came to Juventus, nobody knew who I Was, everybody doubted me, everybody was against me, and I think it was important for me because it put chips back on my shoulder.
McKennie was unable to prevent Leeds from avoiding Premier League relegation last season
‘That’s when I perform best and prove that I can do it and that I belong, so it was nice to come back and have that feeling again.’
Before the U.S.’ shock second-leg loss to Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, McKennie withdrew from selection due to an injury.
It has yet to be known, however, if he will be fit for Juventus’ crucial league match against rivals, Inter Milan, on Sunday.
Inter currently lead Serie A on 31 points, while Juventus have jumped to second on 29 points, with the Bianconeri on a five-game winning streak.