Weston McKennie became the first American to win the Coppa Italia this weekend.
Kartik Krishnaiyer
John Brooks, who for my money has been the best American field player in Europe this season will be in the UEFA Champions League next year. Wolfsburg’s 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig clinched an improbable trip to Europe’s biggest club event. Brooks has always been talented but a combination of injuries and inconsistency hasn’t allowed him to elevate to the levels once expected of him. Now 28, Brooks has reached the apex of his club career and has arguably been the best central defender in the Bundesliga this season. Wolfsburg simply don’t qualify for the Champions League without him. Now USMNT fans must hold their breath that the extra matches for Brooks don’t mean he’s injured for key qualifiers next autumn.
Weston McKennie played a key role in Juventus’ 3-2 win over Inter in the Derby d’ Italia that kept Juve’s hopes of a UEFA Champions League berth alive. McKennie was able to help Juventus off the bench after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off early in the second half. McKennie’s ability to increase the tempo gave Inter, who have already clinched the Serie A title, fits in midfield. Inter’s Anchorman Marcelo Brozović’s frustration eventually resulted in a sending off after Juve had taken a late 3-2 lead.
McKennie followed that performance up with an assist in the Coppa Italia Final, where he won his second trophy with Juventus, becoming the first American to lift the Coppa Italia in the process. The win would normally cap an impressive “trophy” season for Yanks Abroad, but of course Christian Pulisic and Zack Steffen still have to compete for the championship of Europe next week.
Weston McKennie is the first U.S. international to win Coppa Italia!
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) May 19, 2021
Not a bad European cup season for USMNT players so far…
??? Weston McKennie
??? Sergiño Dest
??? Gio Reyna
???????? Zack Steffen
??? Mark McKenzie
??? Brenden Aaronson
As for McKennie, he’s had a marvelous debut season in Turin: the Old Lady is 22-3-3 when McKennie starts and the 22-year-old American leads all Juventus midfielders in goals (6) and passing percentage (68%). These numbers are good for any young player– but all the more astounding given how many felt McKennie may never find a role in Turin when he made his surprise move their last year.
Matthew Hoppe returned to the scoresheet as Schalke, who have been playing with increasing freedom since being relegated, crushed Eintracht Frankfurt. Hoppe’s predatory instincts as well as his positioning sense are impressive for a player who hasn’t been seriously considered a potential part of the long-term USMNT setup. In spite of all of the difficulties Schalke has had of late, their youth setup is still one of the best in Europe and has been a very critical piece for developing multiple American players recently.
In late 2015, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Gelsenkirchen around Schalke as they were preparing to head stateside to face the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Florida Cup. The youth setup was a particular source of pride for the club and the most impressive I have seen in Europe. By the way on that trip, I had the opportunity to meet both Leroy Sane and Joel Matip who in the following years would become Premier League title winners. What’s happened with Schalke on the field of late is unfortunate, but their legacy as a solid home for developing young Americans appears secure.
Kartik Krishnaiyer is an Editor of the Yanks are Coming. He is also a longtime American soccer journalist, author and front office executive. Follow him on Twitter @kkfla737.