US wins twice and may have found some diamonds in the Rough in January

U.S. got excellent games from both of its No. 9s. Patrick Agyemang tallied in both games, while Brian White opened the scoring against Costa Rica. Young Philly Midfielder Jack McGlynn was arguably the best player in camp and had a goal and assist vs Venezuela & a solid 45 min vs Costa Rica. Patrick Agyemang Goal vs Costa Rica  Jack McGlynn goal vs Venezuela. Luna finally got his chance and impressed assisting a goal 2 min after he returned from a broken nose – Poch Funny on Luna Broken Nose & Grit. Brian Jones also looked good at left back and might have earned a callup behind the US best defender Jedi Robinson. I also thought Veteran GK Zach Steffen of Colorado was excellent (Great Save Zach Steffen vs Costa Rica) and might give Matt Turner a run for the gloves in March when the US hosts the Nations League semi-finals. Here are highlights for both games in case you missed. USA vs Venzuela Highlights USA vs Costa Rica Full Highlights .

Lots of stories below.

A big Thanks for those who have Re-Certified to Ref In 2025 – like me – I can’t wait to get back on the fields in February!

Champions League Drama Continues until the last Matchday of the First Round Wed at 3 pm on Para+

Wow amazing to see PSG come back in the last few minutes to almost eliminate Man City from the competition. What an amazing final day of action it will be as automatic places in the top 8 and top 24 are still up for grabs. The Top 8 of which only Liverpool and Barcelona have secured will get the month of Feb off – while #s 9-24 battle it out for the final 8 slots in the Sweet 16 in March. All of the final day games of group play will be on Wed at 3 pm on Paramount+. Full details & Stories below.

UEFA Champions League permutations: Which teams can qualify for last 16? Who could get knocked out?

Going to be An Exciting Wed afternoon this week Final Day of Group Stages – so many slots open

US Men

Agyemang & Co. make January case for future USMNT involvement
USMNT cruises past CONCACAF rivals Costa Rica in friendly showdown
Steffen’s return sparks USMNT win over Costa Rica
United States men beat Costa Rica as Agyemang strikes again
USA 3-0 Costa Rica – A fun win to end the 2025 January window
USA vs. Venezuela, 2025 friendly: Man of the Match

How to rate USMNT’s win in friendly vs. Venezuela
MLS-heavy USMNT side claims win over Venezuela
Luna’s unconventional route has led him to USMNT opportunity

US Ladies & NWSL

USWNT’s Naomi Girma pioneering $1M transfer should surprise nobody
NWSL releases 2025 schedule: Decision Day returns, regular season longer than ever
Ask your WSL transfer deadline day questions

Champions League 1/29 3 pm

UEFA Champions League permutations: Which teams can qualify for last 16? Who could get knocked out?
UCL yields final-day conclusion: Man City must win after PSG collapse
Pep: City down to ‘last chance’ to avoid UCL exit
4 bad stats that have Man City on brink of Champions League exitSquawka
Maresca: Man City rival Guardiola needs support
Roma fall to sixth place in UEFA standings
Ancelotti: ‘Good news’ for Madrid if City exit UCL
Leão earns AC Milan narrow win over Girona
Bayern stunned by Feyenoord, facing playoff round
Celtic beat Young Boys, reach UCL knockout stage

Champions League Table & chances to advance Going Into the Final Opening Round Games Wed, Jan 29 3 pm on Para +

World

Preview: Chelsea Travel to Man City for High-Stakes Premier League Game
Five reasons PL’s ‘Big Six’ era is over
FA blocks Wrexham’s chance to compete in Europe
Kyle Walker completes loan move to AC Milan

Reffing

A big Thanks for those who have Re-Certified to Ref In 2025
Norwegian leagues vote to scrap VAR after widespread fan backlash
Bad Decision Does Not Mean you’re a Bad Ref
Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

GAMES ON TV

Wednesday – 1/29 Champions League Final Group Matchday

• Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Milan look to solidify their top 8 place in Champions League.
• Juventus vs Benfica, 3p on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, FuboTV (free trial), ViX: Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juve are 17th of 36 in Champions League going into this final matchday.
• PSV Eindhoven vs Liverpool FC, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, and PSV are 19th of 36 in the Champions League.
• Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Gio Reyna, Cole Campbell, and BVB are 14th of 36 in Champions League.
• Aston Villa vs Celtic, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic are 18th in Champions League.

VfB Stuttgart vs PSG, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Anrie Chase and Stuttgart are barely inside the playoff places, and can’t afford to lose their match as the UCL league phase draws to a close.

Thursday

• Lyon vs Ludogorets, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Tanner Tessmann and Lyon are 5th in Europa League standings, but can’t afford to rest on their laurels this final matchday.
• Roma vs Frankfurt, 3p on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, TUDN USA, UniMás, FuboTV, ViX: Nathaniel Brown may miss this match due to illness, but he and Frankfurt are fairly comfortable in second place of Europe League, and should advance.

USMNT weekend viewing guide: Grab a cup of joe

There is a solid lineup of matches this weekend including an early start on Sunday if you want to catch the Milan duo in action. So grab your coffee and let’s get rolling.

Saturday

Norwich City v Swansea City – 7:30a on Paramount+

Josh Sargent has returned from a two month layoff to appear in the last two Norwich matches though both have been losses, most recently 2-0 to league leading Leeds United. Norwich were in eighth place when Sargent went out but have fallen to twelfth place and will face fifteenth place Swansea City this weekend.

Mallorca v Real Betis – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Johnny Cardoso has started six straight matches across all competitions but Betis have lost the past three including a 5-1 Copa del Ray thumping at the hands of Barcelona and, perhaps more concerning, losses in La Liga play to relegation threatened Real Valladolid and Deportivo Alaves. Betis travel to Mallorca this weekend to take on the sixth place side that have suffered a three match loosing streak themselves.

Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen – 9:30a on ESPN+

Borussia Dortmund are going through another rough stretch, losing four straight across all competitions and have decided to move on from Nuri Sahin so american’s Gio Reyna and Cole Campbell will start life under a new manager on Saturday, though Mike Tullberg has the role only on an interim basis. Reyna has appeared in eleven straight since returning from injury, including starts in Champions League action at Bologna and hosting Barcelona. BVB face ninth place Werder Bremen who are a point ahead of them in the Bundesliga table heading into the weekend.

Mainz 05 v Stuttgart – 9:30a on ESPN+

Lennard Maloney has moved out of the relegation playoff spot and up to sixth place in the Bundesliga table thanks to a transfer that has him moving to sixth place Mainz. Mainz face off against fourth place Stuttgart this weekend who hold a one point lead over Leipzig for the final Champions League spot.

Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest – 10a on USA Network

Tyler Adams went 90 minutes again last weekend and picked up an assist in Bournemouth’s 4-1 win over Newcastle. The win moved Bournemouth into seventh place, a point back of Newcastle and Manchester City. They now take on Nottingham Forest, who obviously are in third place, and tied on points with second place Arsenal.

Napoli v Juventus – Noon on Paramount+

Tim Weah came on as a halftime substitute for Juventus last weekend and scored his fifth Serie A goal of the season as Juventus defeated AC Milan 2-0. Weah then started midweek as Juve settled for the draw with Club Brugge in Champions League action. Weston McKennie started last weekend and went the full 90, then came off the bench on Tuesday with Juventus looking for the decisive goal. Juventus face league leading Napoli this weekend, the teams played to a scoreless draw the last time they met, back in late September.

Borussia Monchengladbach v Bochum – 12:30p on ESPN+

Joe Scally got a rare match off last weekend as Borussia Monchengladbach fell to Bayer Leverkusen 3-1. Scally had started every match for Gladbach heading into last weekend. Gladbach will be looking to snap a three match loosing streak as they face last place Bochum this weekend.

PSV v NAC Breda – 12:45p on ESPN+

Richard Ledezma was the only member of the USMNT trio starting for PSV last weekend as they fell to PEC Zwolle 3-1 with Ricardo Pepi coming in off the bench and Malik Tillman not included in the squad. PSV bounced back midweek, hanging on for a 3-2 away win over Red Star Belgrade despite playing nearly half the match down a man. With the league loss last weekend PSV’s lead for first place is down to just one point over Ajax.

Sunday

AC Milan v Parma – 6:30a on Paramount+

Christian Pulisic missed out on Milan’s matchup with Juventus last weekend but did get 15’ off the bench midweek in their 1-0 win over Girona. Yunus Musah started both matches on the right side. After the loss last weekend Milan are in eighth place in the Serie A table and need to string together some wins in the second half if they are going to qualify again for Champions League play.

Crystal Palace v Brentford – 9a on Peacock

Chris Richards has started four straight including last weekend’s 2-0 win over West Ham. Palace have ten points from those four matches and have moved into 12th place, a point ahead of West Ham and Manchester United and a point back of this weekend’s opponent, Brentford, who are coming off a 2-0 loss to Liverpool.

Toulouse v Montpellier – 11:15a on beIN Sports

Mark McKenzie continues to start for Toulouse, he’s nearing 1,500 minutes already halfway through the season. Toulouse and Lyon played to a scoreless draw last weekend as Toulouse remains in eighth place heading into their match against bottom of the table Montpellier who they defeated 3-0 earlier this season.

St Pauli v Union Berlin – 11:30a on ESPN+

James Sands got his first start for St. Pauli last weekend since joining the club two weeks ago. St Pauli defeated Heidenheim 2-0 in the match to pulll three points clear of them and out of the relegation zone. They remain three points back of this weekend’s opponent, Union Berlin and Jordan Pefok who are in 13th place. Pefok has started three straight matches, including last weekend’s 2-1 win over Mainz, snapping a ten match winless streak. Pefok is still looking for his first goal on the season.

Fulham v Manchester United – 2p on USA Network

Antonee Robinson and Fulham were winners again last weekend, defeating Leicester 2-0 to maintain their top ten position in the EPL. Robinson again wore the captains armband which he has been sporting quite a bit lately. Fulham have a seven point lead over this weekend’s opponent, Manchester United, who defeated Rangers on Thursday in Europa League action but fell to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend in league play.

=======RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ===

Looking for a good summer meal?  Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ

Save 20% on your order 

(mention the ole ballcoach) 

Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more.  Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290  M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday.  Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!  

======================RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ======================

Which teams are in the hunt to qualify automatically for the Champions League last 16?

18 teams are still able to finish in the top eight and qualify automatically for the last 16:

Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Vila, Inter Milan, Brest, Lille, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta, Juventus, Benfica, Monaco, Sporting Lisbon, Feyenoord, Club Brugge, Real Madrid, Celtic, PSV Eindhoven and Club Brugge

Which teams cannot advance to the last 16 automatically, but can still reach the playoff round?

Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting CP, Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, Shakhtar Donetsk

Which teams have been eliminated from the Champions League?

Young Boys, Slovan Bratislava, Red Bull Salzburg, Sturm Graz, Red Star Belgrade, Girona, RB Leipzig, Sparta Prague and Bologna cannot qualify for the playoff round and will be eliminated from Europe (no dropping down to the Europa League anymore) for the rest of the season.

UEFA Champions League tables — Latest standings from 2024-25 league phase

• Top eight spots qualify directly for knockout rounds
• Positions 9-24 are matched up in two-legged playoff ties
• Positions 25-36 are eliminated from all European competitions

1. Liverpool — 7-0-0 — +13 GD — 21 points — Advance to round of 16 (seeded)
2. Barcelona — 6-0-1 — +15 GD — 18 points — Advance to round of 16 (seeded)
3. Arsenal — 5-1-1 — +12 GD — 16 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (seeded)
4. Inter Milan — 5-1-1 — +7 GD — 16 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (seeded)
5. Atletico Madrid — 5-0-2 — +11 GD — 15 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
6. AC Milan — 5-0-2 — +4 GD — 15 points Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
7. Atalanta — 4-2-1 — +14 GD — 14 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
8. Bayer Leverkusen — 4-1-2 — +6 GD — 13 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
9. Aston Villa — 4-1-2 — +5 GD — 13 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
10. AS Monaco — 4-1-2 — +3 GD — 13 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
11. Feyenoord — 4-1-2 — +2 GD — 13 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
12. Lille — 4-1-2 — +2 GD — 13 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
13. Brest — 4-1-2 — +2 GD — 13 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
14. Borussia Dortmund — 4-0-3 — +8 GD — 12 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
15. Bayern Munich — 4-0-3 — +6 GD — 12 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
16. Real Madrid — 4-0-3 — +5 GD — 12 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
17. Juventus — 3-3-1 — +4 GD — 12 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
18. Celtic — 3-3-1 — +1 GD — 12 points — Assured of at least a playoff spot (unseeded)
19. PSV Eindhoven — 3-2-2 — +3 GD — 11 points
20. Club Brugge — 3-2-2 — -2 GD — 11 points
21. Benfica — 3-1-3 — +3 GD — 11 points
22. Paris Saint-Germain — 3-1-3 — +2 GD — 10 points
23. Sporting Lisbon — 3-1-3 — +1 GD — 10 points
24. Stuttgart — 3-1-3 — -1 GD — 10 points
25. Manchester City — 2-1-4 — +2 GD — 8 points — Can’t qualify for last 16 directly, but may reach playoff round (unseeded)
26. Dinamo Zagreb — 2-2-3 — -8 GD — 8 points — Can’t qualify for last 16 directly, but may reach playoff round (unseeded)
27. Shakhtar Donetsk — 2-1-4 — -6 GD — 7 points — Can’t qualify for last 16 directly, but may reach playoff round (unseeded)
28. Bologna — 1-2-4 — -5 GD — 5 points — Eliminated
29. Sparta Prague — 1-1-5 — -12 GD — 4 points — Eliminated
30. RB Leipzig — 1-0-6 — -6 GD — 3 points — Eliminated
31. Girona — 1-0-6 — -7 GD — 3 points — Eliminated
32. Red Star Belgrade — 1-0-6 — -10 GD — 3 points — Eliminated
33. Sturm Graz — 1-0-6 — -10 GD — 3 points — Eliminated
34. Red Bull Salzburg — 1-0-6 — -15 GD — 3 points — Eliminated
35. Slovan Bratislava — 0-0-7 — -18 GD — 0 points — Eliminated
36. Young Boys — 0-0-7 — -20 GD — 0 points — Eliminated

Agyemang & Co. make January case for future USMNT involvement

• Jeff CarlisleJan 23, 2025, 09:51 AM ET ESPN

The annual January camp for the U.S. men’s national team has reached its conclusion, and while the full scope of its success or failure won’t be known for some time, the initial reaction is positive. The USMNT came away with wins over Venezuela and Costa Rica by 3-1 and 3-0 scores, respectively. The U.S. looked solid on both sides of the ball and was deserving of its victories.

Yet the takeaways from these matches skew more toward individual performances than the result, although the two often go hand in hand. And while those initial assessments usually focus on up-and-comers, there is an opportunity for the revival of some international careers that were thought to be dormant. It is those players who often have a better chance of an immediate recall than some of the newbies. That’s as good a spot as any to lead off with in terms of which players were the winners of the camp.

Steffen makes his case to be No. 1

Matt Turner has been solid in his recent USMNT performances, but his lack of playing time with Crystal Palace has left enough of an opening that a goalkeeper hitting top form could make a push to take over. Based on Wednesday’s encounter against the Ticos, Zack Steffen could very well be the player to provide that challenge. The Colorado Rapids No. 1 certainly has plenty of experience. He was the starter for much of the 2022 cycle before losing his spot to Turner, which was followed by Steffen’s shocking omission from the World Cup roster. The way back has been difficult. Desperately in need of playing time, and coming off a knee injury, Steffen had to give up on his European dream to return to MLS. There were certainly some early struggles in Colorado, but Steffen has been on U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino’s radar since the Argentine was hired, coming into both of the previous camps, although he didn’t see the field. Given that the January matches were played outside of an international window, an opportunity beckoned against Costa Rica, and Steffen took full advantage.

Editor’s Picks

• Luna’s unconventional route has led him to USMNT opportunity3dJeff Carlisle
• Ranking the USMNT’s top 15 prospects age 21 or younger, from Europe to MLS 8dRyan O’Hanlon
• Can Pochettino really transform the USMNT’s mentality — and how will he do it?11dLizzy Becherano and Jeff Carlisle

Steffen’s appearance on Wednesday was his first in a USMNT uniform since the end of 2022 World Cup qualifying, when the Ticos beat the U.S. His memories of this window’s match were far brighter. Steffen delivered three saves on the night, two of which were outstanding efforts to deny Alejandro Bran in the 37th minute and Allan Cruz 11 minutes after halftime. This is just a first step. As Pochettino put it with regard to all the players in the January camp, “They need to push themselves now, they need to come back to their clubs and be the best.” Steffen appears to be ready.

A tale of two strikers

Over the course of the two games, the U.S. got excellent performances from both of its No. 9s. Patrick Agyemang tallied in both games, while Brian White opened the scoring against Costa Rica. Of the two, White is the more polished performer. The timing of his runs is better and his movements more subtle. That sense of anticipation explains how he has been able to score 71 goals in 196 league and cup appearances, first with the New York Red Bulls and more recently with the Vancouver Whitecaps. It makes sense. At age 28, White is entering his eighth professional season compared to Agyemang, who is beginning his third. Agyemang has the higher upside, though. He’s four years younger, and at 6-foot-4, he has the kind of frame — as well as deceptive mobility — that is a nightmare for defenders to deal with. It’s expected that he’ll become more refined as he adds experience.

RSL pair shine in midfield

If there was one enduring image of this January camp, it was the sight of Diego Luna with cotton stuffed up his nostrils after suffering a broken nose thanks to a wayward elbow from Creichel Pérez. Then, just seconds after re-entering the match because of his injury, it was Luna who received the ball in midfield, ran at the Ticos’ defense, and laid in a perfect through ball for White to latch onto and finish. Luna’s perseverance personified the competitiveness and spirit that Pochettino has been preaching since he took the job last September. Afterwards, during a postgame interview with TNT, Pochettino said that Luna had “big balls,” which sent the TNT crew into howls of laughter. In his subsequent interview with the rest of the media, Pochettino’s comments were more G-rated.[Luna] showed great character because he wanted to stay,” the U.S. manager said. “He wanted to play.”he only pity was that Luna did have to come off at halftime because of his injury. Yet his 45-minute stint showed enough for Pochettino to at least keep an eye on the Real Salt Lake midfielder going forward. Luna is ready for the next step and remains the most intriguing prospect to come out of the January camp. He was by no means the only midfielder to shine, though. Emeka Eneli, Luna’s club teammate, was a force in more of a defensive midfield role, providing plenty of steel against a side known for its bite. Eneli also proved adept at connecting his passes and assisted on the second U.S. goal, a very sharp finish from Caden Clark. That said, Eneli looked a bit labored at times in terms of his recovery defense. It is still preseason for all of these players, which explains why there were some uneven displays from the likes of Matko Miljevic, Indiana Vassilev and Benjamin Cremaschi.

Jack McGlynn proved to be arguably the player of the camp, riding his goal and assist against Venezuela into another composed performance in 45 minutes of work against Costa Rica. Not only was his passing sharp, but his eight recoveries led the team. Fresh faces emerge to challenge familiar backline

The U.S. defense contained more familiar names than any other part of the field, and Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman all acquitted themselves well across two matches. The only goal conceded came from a set piece. It was a pair of relative newcomers who caught the eye, though. George Campbell looked strong against Venezuela, even when he ventured forward. DeJuan Jones earned his 10th cap and was given license to get forward as much as possible from left-back. He took advantage, and dazzled with a gorgeous, outside-of-the-foot pass that sprung Agyemang for his stoppage-time tally. Will it be enough to get called up in March for the Nations League semifinals? Jones finds himself battling a numbers game, as do many of his teammates in this camp. There just don’t appear to be too many spots open, but Pochettino has accumulated plenty of data. For the likes of Steffen, McGlynn, Agyemang and Luna, there is a greater level of comfort at bringing them into the full team should the situation arise.

USMNT beats Costa Rica 3-0 with goals from Brian White, Caden Clark and Patrick Agyemang

By Felipe Cardenas Jan 22, 2025 The Athletic

---

The U.S. men’s national team recorded a 3-0 win over CONCACAF rivals Costa Rica on Wednesday in Orlando. It was the second consecutive win for Mauricio Pochettino’s reserve squad. Goals from Brian White, Caden Clark and Patrick Agyemang spearheaded the team’s second consecutive win in less than a week.The U.S. team started its January camp matches last Saturday with a 3-1 win over Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Pochettino will be pleased with the side’s effort and comprehension of his ideas. Across two matches, the U.S. was generally well-organized and committed to Pochettino’s high-intensity style of play. The Americans were sharper and more direct than both of their opponents, both of whom fielded experimental teams.But for Pochettino, the objective was to win both matches. It sounds simple, but the Argentine head coach has made a habit of referring to the expectation to win that dominates American sports culture. Against Costa Rica, creative midfielder Diego Luna, a player who has not yet maximized his opportunities with the national team, produced the first goal of the night. After taking an inadvertent elbow to his nose in the 17th minute, which left him bloodied, the Real Salt Lake No. 10 threaded a pass to White three minutes later.After the match, Pochettino told TNT’s crew exactly what the conversation with Luna on the sideline sounded like.

“I was very surprised because his nose was broken,” said Pochettino. “I didn’t want to say too much. He said ‘Please coach let me keep playing.’ I asked the doctor who said it was okay. The first action (Luna) had an assist and we scored. I said ‘big balls.’ He showed great character.”

In his first start with the national team since 2022, goalkeeper Zack Steffen made two spectacular saves to keep Costa Rica at bay, including an opposite-hand save while fully stretched. It was a solid performance for Steffen whose form has gradually gotten better since joining the Colorado Rapids in 2024. Steffen was supported by an experienced back line that featured Miles Robinson, Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman.

In the 78th minute, Clark smashed a left-footed strike into the top corner of the Costa Rican net to end a spell of disjointed play from both teams. Poor giveaways and sloppy play affected the second half, but Clark and Ageymang put the game on ice. It was a fair result.“We are very very happy. It was a good performance, very professional,” Pochettino told TNT after the match. “To work with new players and try to find the way to perform with good lines and the quality we showed today, this team when I watch, it looks like we’ve worked (together) for six months. The attitude and capacity to adapt to new ideas has been amazing. The (players) are pushing to be in the national team.”

January camp has come to an end and while not many headlines were made over the last month, plenty of players earned valuable minutes under the new U.S. manager. Pochettino and his staff will now focus on preparation for the semifinal round of the CONCACAF Nations League in March. The U.S. will face Panama on March 20 in Los Angeles, while the other semifinal pits Mexico against Canada.

USMNT beats Venezuela 3-1 in friendly to open 2025: Who stood out?

By Jeff Rueter Jan 18, 2025 The Athletic

---

The United States men’s national team won its first game of 2025, beating Venezuela 3-1 in a friendly at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A pair of goals late in the first half gave the hosts a comfortable lead heading into the break.

The crowd seemed to skew favorably for the South American visitors, with their efforts to progress upfield garnering far louder support than the home side. Although Venezuela was able to sully the USMNT’s efforts to keep a clean sheet, La Vinotinto didn’t seem particularly likely to threaten the result at any stage.

A host of fresh faces

The international friendly came in the middle of the USMNT’s annual January camp. Mauricio Pochettino gave eight players their senior debuts in the fixture, while all three goalscorers opened their international accounts Saturday.

The United States worked to strike early, with Charlotte FC forward Patrick Agyemang drawing a penalty in the second minute. Matko Miljevic, a midfielder who is currently without a club, stepped up to take the penalty kick, with a poor effort being comfortably saved by goalkeeper Wuilker Faríñez. Philadelphia Union homegrown midfielder Jack McGlynn found a breakthrough in the 37th minute, scoring his first goal in his second USMNT cap by placing a shot from roughly 30 yards out just inside the post.

WHAT A MOMENT. WHAT A GOAL!

Jack McGlynn puts us ahead in style!#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/2lVHMGRURJ

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) January 18, 2025

Agyemang scored on his debut two minutes later, finishing a one-man fast break by outrunning his defensive mark before catching Faríñez with his legs akimbo for a tidy nutmegged finish. The goal saw Miljevic get credited for an assist, as his defensive disruption sprung the ball free into Agyemang’s path.

“Such a surreal moment,” Agyemang told TNT after the game. “I think every kid dreams to make a debut for their national team. To be able to score, I can’t put it into words. I think the excitement is still there. I can’t even believe it.”

Miljevic got a debut goal of his own in the 64th minute, progressing the ball into the attacking third and passing wide to McGlynn before running toward the top of the box and placing a finish to Faríñez’s far post.

All players to debut Saturday were: Agyemang, Miljevic, George Campbell (defender, CF Montréal), Max Arfsten (defender, Columbus Crew), Brian Gutiérrez (midfielder, Chicago Fire), Caden Clark (midfielder, CF Montréal), Emeka Eneli (midfielder, Real Salt Lake) and Indiana Vassilev (forward, St. Louis City).

Advertisement

An emphatic introduction

Agyemang could not have made a stronger first impression under Pochettino. The Charlotte forward was among the biggest breakout domestic players in the 2024 MLS season, scoring 10 goals and adding five assists, outperforming his expected goals by +1.74.

The 24-year-old striker carried that momentum to start 2025 off right. His movement frustrated the Venezuela defense throughout his 65-minute shift, from the drawn penalty two minutes into the match to his goal just over half an hour later.

UNSTOPPABLE from Patrick Agyemang to double the lead!#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/BxMB1B16Lx

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) January 18, 2025

After the game, Agyemang was all smiles speaking with the TNT pitchside analysts. After USMNT legend Damarcus Beasley gave a helpful hint as to how to hold the broadcast microphone, the striker spoke about the confidence Pochettino seemed to display ahead of his debut.

“Obviously, it’s a little intimidating coming into your first camp,” Agyemang said. “Pochettino told me straight away, ‘I like your game. I want you to play exactly how you know to play. Don’t have to feel pressure to do anything specific. Know your defensive roles, but at the end of the day, just show what you can do.’ And I was able to do stuff.”Striker is among the strongest and deepest positions in the USMNT pool these days. Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent and Ricardo Pepi are regularly called into camps and scoring with their clubs when healthy, while Brandon Vázquez returned to MLS to ensure he was a club’s main man during the final 17 months before the 2026 World Cup.Still, Agyemang could feasibly work into Pochettino’s plans in short order. Standing 6-feet-4, he became the tallest USMNT goalscorer in eight years and is a threat to win aerial balls given his size. However, he profiles more closely to Balogun’s approach to the role, a more finesse-based forward who can sprint past any opponent and prefers having the ball played to his feet rather than winning headers in the box and in build-up like Pepi, Sargent and Vázquez.(Photo: John Dorton / ISI Photos / USSF / Getty Images)

Champions League projections: Are we heading for El Clasico in the last 16?

By Thom Harris Jan 23, 2025 The Athletic

---

With just one round of fixtures remaining of the inaugural 36-team Champions League league phase, two-thirds of the competition are still awaiting their fate. Nine teams, including Girona, RB Leipzig and Bologna, are definitely out. One club — PSV — will definitely finish between ninth and 24th, consigning them to a two-legged play-off in February, while Liverpool and Barcelona are safely through to the round of 16. For everyone else, it comes down to the last game.All 18 fixtures take place at 8pm GMT (3pm ET) on Wednesday. With an average of 58 goals across the previous gameweeks and so many sides jostling for position, get ready for two chaotic hours. ith the help of The Athletic’s Opta-powered Champions League projections, we attempt to map out the final day.

---

City still have it in their hands

For all the drama of Manchester City’s spectacular collapse in Paris — the ninth time they have lost after leading this season — it leaves Pep Guardiola’s side in much the same position as where they started.

Their chances of elimination before kick-off were down at nine per cent according to The Athletic’s projections; that has jumped to 36 per cent following their 4-2 defeat, but the picture remains clear. Beat Club Brugge on Wednesday and City are through. Anything less and they suffer an incredibly embarrassing early exit.

Matters are slightly more complicated for Paris Saint-Germain, but a win over Stuttgart on the final day will do it. They should also be through with a draw given one of Club Brugge and City, who face each other, will finish below them — either City on points or Brugge on goal difference.

That being said, a trip to take on last season’s Bundesliga runners-up will not be straightforward. Stuttgart are also chasing points — or at least protecting their goal difference — to confirm their passage through. Sebastian Hoeness’ side have hit good form in recent weeks, with a comfortable 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava making it four victories in a row and Deniz Undav and Jamie Leweling recovering from injuries over the winter break.

Will Guardiola and Luis Enrique’s sides both make it through to the knockout stage? (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

The real fun starts when trying to predict potential opponents for the knockout games. City’s most likely position is 21st, meaning they would play the 11th- or 12th-placed team in their play-off. According to the projections, that is most likely to be Bayern Munich or Juventus — but 18 other teams could finish in either of those two positions and City could finish in a further eight qualifying spots.As it stands, Liverpool and Barcelona’s reward for finishing first and second would be a heavyweight last-16 tie with one of Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Celtic.Fortunately for Arne Slot and Hansi Flick, the table should shift significantly on matchday eight.

---

Barcelona’s legendary turnaround

Despite seven wins from seven, having conceded just two goals, Liverpool still do not have top spot sewn up, but it took another minor miracle to take it to the final day.With a sensational 5-4 win over Benfica — twice coming from two goals down before securing a stoppage-time win — Barcelona sealed their place in the top eight, still with a 9.9 per cent chance of overtaking the league leaders on the final day per The Athletic’s projections. They need to beat Atalanta and hope Arne Slot’s side are defeated at his former Eredivisie title rivals PSV.Barcelona’s comeback was extraordinary in more ways than one. This was only the second time a team have won a Champions League game despite conceding four goals — along with Borussia Dortmund’s 8-4 win over Legia Warsaw in November 2016 — while it was the third time Barcelona have scored five goals in a match in nine days.What’s more, Raphinha’s bizarre finish to pull it back to 3-2 was only the third header scored from outside the box in the competition’s history.If the Brazilian’s first was fortunate, his match-winning goal was typical of one of Europe’s most prolific forwards this season. Racing clear and finishing confidently at the near post, it was Raphinha’s 31st goal contribution of the season in just under 28 full games of action. Once again, his fitness and relentless running in behind (illustrated by the graphic below) paid off.

Hansi Flick’s side are almost guaranteed a top-three finish and given the uncertainty on potential opponents, it might even be worth rotating for the visit of Atalanta next week, Barcelona’s eighth game of the month.

---

Anything Barcelona can do…

Not content seeing their domestic rivals take the limelight, Atletico Madrid launched a late comeback of their own at the Metropolitano, snapping Bayer Leverkusen’s 11-game winning streak with a dramatic 2-1 win.Julian Alvarez‘s late strike was the ninth decisive goal that Diego Simeone’s men have scored after the 90-minute mark this season, having beaten Barcelona and PSG with seconds to spare. It was also the fourth time that former City forward Alvarez has popped up with a winner and he now has as many Champions League goals (six) as he has managed in La Liga.The 24-year-old was clinical again, needing just five touches in the penalty area to continue his hot streak in front of goal, illustrated in his shot map for the season below.

It’s a result that lifts the Spanish side above Leverkusen in the table, but both are in strong positions for automatic qualification. Following a fourth successive win in the competition — the first time they have managed that since 2016 — Atletico have an 82 per cent chance of finishing in the top eight.Leverkusen are not far behind, with a 75 per cent chance before a winnable game against already-eliminated Sparta Prague.

---

A famous win for Feyenoord

Arguably the biggest winners from this week’s action were Feyenoord, who are mathematically safe after an impressive 3-0 win over Bayern Munich. It hasn’t been plain sailing domestically for coach Brian Priske, who was dealt the unenviable hand of succeeding Slot, but a stunning point at the Etihad sits alongside last night’s result as one of the finest in the club’s recent history.

Santiago Gimenez celebrates his second goal against Bayern Munich (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Santiago Gimenez opened the scoring with an emphatic finish after a flowing move that started from the goalkeeper — just one of three shots that Feyenoord kept on target all evening. The Mexican has scored 11 goals since his return from injury in late November, adding a second from the spot just before half-time.Bayern were wasteful — as Harry Kane, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala missed from point-blank range — illustrated by the expected goals (xG) step chart below. They also controlled 80 per cent of the ball and completed almost four times as many passes on the way to their third away defeat in the Champions League this season despite perfect home form.

Remarkably, Feyenoord’s chance of progressing automatically to the last 16 (13 per cent) is now greater than the model predicts for Bayern (nine per cent). Victory against winless Slovan Bratislava shouldn’t be an issue for Vincent Kompany’s side on the final day but results need to go their way if they are to creep into the top eight.To whoever draws Bayern in the play-off round: unlucky.

---

Best of the rest

Inter practically sealed their passage through to the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Sparta Prague. Still with a record of having let in just one goal, there is now just a two per cent chance that the Serie A champions fall into the play-off spots.

Atalanta continued their storming campaign with a 5-0 win over Sturm Graz, their second five-goal win of the tournament. They have a 66 per cent chance of holding on to a top-eight berth, with a tricky trip to Barcelona on the final day.

Aston Villa fell to a disappointing defeat at Monaco, leaving their automatic qualification in the balance. They need to beat Celtic at Villa Park while hoping one of the other six teams on 13 points, or any of the three sides above them, drop points. Opta gives them a 52 per cent chance of climbing back into the top eight and a 48 per cent of heading into a playoff with — as it stands — Sporting CP or Stuttgart.

Real Madrid recorded a much-needed 5-1 win over Red Bull Salzburg to keep them safe from a shocking league-stage exit. They have a 93 per cent chance of finishing in a play-off spot — a massively daunting opponent in February. And it may have been too little too late, but Leipzig and Bologna picked up their first Champions League wins of the campaign. Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Iling-Junior scored within 60 seconds for the Italians to complete a remarkable comeback win over Dortmund that saw Nuri Sahin lose his job.

Tyler Adams boosts USMNT optimism with return to top form, has Bournemouth flying

By Jeff Rueter Jan 23, 2025 The Athletic

---

The mark of a good defensive midfielder is when you hardly notice their presence. They’ve snuffed out an opponent’s attack before the crowd can begin to anticipate a box entry. Their passing is so metronomic that it puts a viewer in a daze. Even the most game-changing of defensive actions look tidy when handled with masterful precision.Tyler Adams is a good defensive midfielder, as has been established for nearly five years now after his breakthrough with RB Leipzig. Despite this, he lacks that “blink and you’ll miss his work” air about him. The reason for this is simple: his clubs and country fare noticeably better whenever he’s involved.Bournemouth is the latest beneficiary of Adams’ play. They played their first seven games of the season without Adams as he recovered from back surgery in July. Since then, Andoni Iraola’s side has seemingly gone from strength to strength: 10 games unbeaten, dating back to a 4-2 win at Wolves on Nov. 30, with a 2.2-points-per-game clip over the period that only trails Nottingham Forest among Premier League sides.Adams’ return has been highly anticipated by Bournemouth in part because he was hardly available in his first season. The club signed him after Leeds United were relegated, hoping he would be a more dependable midfield anchor than Jefferson Lerma, who was leaving for Crystal Palace.

Tyler Adams has contributed to Bournemouth’s superb recent form. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

So great was their faith in the former New York Red Bull that he was their only defensive midfield reinforcement in the three windows following Lerma’s exit. The need for cover was immediately pronounced, as Leeds’ overuse of Adams left him with a torn hamstring that ended his season in early March. Even as he missed nearly all of 2023-24, Bournemouth focused its recruitment on the forward and defensive lines.After his surgery rehab, Bournemouth has been more willing to ease him back into action. He was slowly reintroduced in late October: one unused appearance on the bench, then two substitute shifts, then his return to the lineup in mid-November.

Starting with that galvanizing win at Molineux, Bournemouth’s 10-game heater yields ample data suggesting Adams has played a significant part. Since Nov. 30, Bournemouth has increased its ball recovery rate by 3.1% (to 58%) from the previous 12 matches, improved the average xG per shot faced from 0.105 to 0.085, and upped its pressing intensity of passes allowed per defensive action made (or PPDA) from 11.2 to 9.3.

Advertisement

“It’s a controlled chaos,” Adams told TNT Sports after last weekend’s win at Newcastle.  “We want to make the game as chaotic as possible but controlled for us. We try to overwhelm the opponent as much as possible but for us, it feels normal. We’re running all over the place.

“We know I have the freedom to step, I know center backs are coming with me. It’s trust, but you have to have the nuance to it as well. You can’t go flying into tackles all over the pitch. You have to be smart, because we know we can leave ourselves vulnerable at times.”

Adams has looked back to his best. His 12.43 ‘true’ tackles per 1,000 opponent touches — combining raw tackle data with instances when a defender is either shaken by the ball-handler or commits a foul in the process — since Nov. 28 trails only Alexis Mac Allister and João Gomes among all Premier League players (min. 500 minutes played). His ‘true’ tackle win rate of 55.3% exceeds both of them, while he also ranks highly in interceptions and blocked passes per 1,000 opponent touches (4.5, 5th among 61 qualified midfielders) and aerial win rate (64.3%, 15th).

Even more eye-catching than the data are the results themselves. Since returning, Adams has participated in: a 1-0 win over Tottenham, a 3-0 win at Old Trafford, a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, and last weekend’s 4-1 blowout at St. James’ Park. Adams was particularly immense in the most recent result, making a mark all over the pitch in a vintage display.

The run has made Iraola among the hottest names in coaching. It has also reinforced the abilities, individually and as a collective, of Adams and his teammates.

“The system that we play, you have to be a certain type of player to fit into the style,” Adams said last weekend. “You have to have the mentality to press, run, and compete.”

Thankfully for Bournemouth, those traits fit Adams to a tee. The next trick is to keep him available for his national team’s biggest tournament in over three decades.

---

One can assume that Adams and USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino have spoken several times since the Argentine’s appointment in September. Unfortunately, Adams’ back injury prevented him from featuring in either of Pochettino’s first two camps before year’s end.

Adams last played for the national team that he co-captains in early July, when he started the Copa América group finale against Uruguay. The match felt doomed before it kicked off, as the previous game’s shock defeat against Panama made advancing from Group C a near impossibility. It was the only time that Adams played a full 90 minutes in the tournament, having played the opening half against Bolivia and Panama. 

As The Athletic wrote in the weeks following the USMNT’s early exit, Adams clearly looked below his usual standard across the competition. His lack of involvement in the preceding months left the USMNT’s crucial midfield cog with significant rust. It’s quite understandable why: Adams had logged just 118 minutes for Bournemouth and 96 minutes for the United States dating back to Jan. 1, 2024.

Elimination at the Copa America group stage ended Gregg Berhalter’s tenure. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images for USSF)

In the Copa, Adams was far less effective than usual when tackling opponents. Comparing to another small sample — his 360 minutes in Qatar — his duel win rate dropped from 61% to 53%; his ‘true’ tackle win rate fell from a robust 64.7% to a paltry 37.5%. Concerningly, he was forced to commit fouls more often, possibly a side effect of being below his opponents’ fitness standard: from 1.96 fouls per 1,000 opponent touches at the World Cup to 2.89 per 1,000 touches at the Copa América.

This almost certainly wasn’t a case of a player regressing over 18 months. Adams won’t turn 26 until mid-February. Instead, his and Bournemouth’s shared inability to avoid injuries in the months preceding the tournament left him without time to adequately prepare. Compare that to the months preceding the 2022 World Cup, when he’d logged 1,167 Premier League minutes for Leeds in the season’s first half, and it’s clear how much more ready his body was for hard-labor tournament shifts.

Bournemouth and the USMNT have a shared interest in ensuring that Adams’ recent stretch of consistent, high-level play can be sustained for longer than a couple of months at a time. The United States will need all of its best players in fine form to make a deep run when the 2026 World Cup comes to North America. When drafting the USMNT’s projected strongest lineup for that summer, it’s hard to come up with even a few names who are as vital to making it all work as Adams.

For Bournemouth, that may also mean finding adequate cover before the January window closes. Billing was loaned to Napoli as other attacking options surpassed him on the depth chart. The fact that Adams has quickly partnered well with Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie shows that any two starters from the trio complement each other. During this 10-game run, however, no other player beyond these three has logged a single minute in the engine room.

Tanner Tessman’s emergence has given the USMNT midfield options. (Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images for USSF)

For the USMNT, Adams may require rest and rotation whenever he has been heavily utilized before an international window. Thankfully, Pochettino has more depth in defensive midfield than his predecessor Gregg Berhalter. Johnny Cardoso, Tanner Tessman and Aidan Morris have all progressed since the 2022 World Cup. None is quite as industrious of a ball-winner as Adams, but each can take a shift to ease the toll on Adams’ legs.Adams is invaluable to the USMNT, a quintessential “glue guy” with strong leadership attributes and level-headed relatability. Having him as part of each ensuing Pochettino camp will ensure he’s in sync with his teammates even if his minutes must be managed during friendly windows.With respect to the next handful of windows, none comes close to matching the magnitude of the 2026 World Cup. Entering that tournament with Adams below optimal fitness, or seeing him miss outright due to injury, would be among the worst imaginable setbacks Pochettino could face.(Top photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie has what he wants this January – no transfer talk

By Greg O’Keeffe 5h ago The Athletic

---

Weston McKennie arrived, like clockwork, into Manchester City’s penalty area and timed his volley with precision. It was apt for a player who sometimes compares himself to a wristwatch. In one glorious instant, to extend the metaphor, he became a very valuable one. McKennie’s December goal to seal a dramatic Champions League win for Juventus against City reminded everyone at the Italian club about the wisdom of keeping the 26-year-old American after yet another summer of speculation over his future.

Fast forward a month and the winter transfer window has brought a pleasant change for the Texan. Speculation? What speculation? Rather than links with a move elsewhere, as has been the case in previous windows, all the talk surrounding McKennie in Juventus’ home city of Turin this week is about how he can help the team win arguably its most important game of the season at league leaders Napoli tomorrow.With typical honesty, McKennie admits his career path has long toughened him up to the process.“It’s definitely nice,” he said of the lack of exit rumors, in an interview with The Athletic on Thursday.“I have dealt with it most of the time in the summers, so cross my fingers that it doesn’t pop up again come this summer time.

Coach Antonio Conte’s Napoli team sits top of Serie A (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“To be here is always a dream for me, at this high level and a club with so much history and the caliber of players in the past, and to even play with some of those players and legends. So it’s nice to not hear any noise about it for now.”Even during the second summer of suggestions he was just not quite good enough for Juventus to keep, McKennie seemed to remain sanguine. Now, he is eyeing a personal best for goals in a season, with four in all competitions already (his top tally is six, in his 2020-21 debut campaign with Juventus), and admits he is enjoying proving his worth.“Like anything in life, once you experience it a couple of times, you know how to deal with it,” he says. “I learned at a young age, when I made my first move from FC Dallas to Germany (joining Schalke at age 17), that football is a business and people, or teams and clubs, will have use for you until they don’t have use for you and then you’re just an investment.“It’s just like a watch: you buy a watch and hope it appreciates in value and when it’s time to resell it, you can resell it. You may not use it as much anymore after a little bit.

“After many experiences of it, you get used to it and just try to respond. The only thing you can do to respond to it is prove people wrong and that’s something I feel like I’ve been able to do in the past two seasons and I hope it continues.”

Some supporters have chosen a different object to reflect McKennie’s appeal.

One commenter beneath an Athletic article compared him to a useful Swiss Army knife and it is easy to see why. During his time at the Turin giant, he has played almost every outfield position. Although he prefers a central-midfield No. 8 role, this season has often seen the right-footer deputize ably at left-back.

Advertisement

It means a different set of demands than operating in midfield, but McKennie says it has never felt like an onerous switch.“I’ve always been someone that wants the best for the team and the club. I’m not a super-selfish person, so whatever I’m asked to do I don’t mind doing,” he says. “As long as I’m playing, I’m happy.“I don’t find it hard to adapt. I feel I’ve always had a good understanding of the game and played for a while now, so it’s pretty easy. If you’re playing the right-back position or left-back you stay with the line, you press when you can, or don’t press, get out of situations, you make passes just like in any position.

This January, McKennie seems more settled at Juventus during the transfer window (Diego Puletto/Juventus/Juventus FC via Getty Images)

“If you play midfield, you do the same thing: press when you can, make sure you stay in the middle of the field and make passes. If you play striker, you just make sure you’re not offside, so you’re staying with the line again. You don’t need to overcomplicate anything.”Unsurprisingly then, McKennie has not spent his spare time studying videos of other left-backs.“I don’t watch football,” he says. “When I’m finished with training, I go home and watch movies, TV shows, and disconnect completely. I’ve never watched a World Cup or Champions League final. Nothing.“It’s something I’ve always done. We watch enough film in training to have an understanding of things. I love football, trust me — it’s given me the life that I have: to be able to travel and not have to worry about things maybe other people have to worry about. To be able to help my family when I can — but football is not my life.“I like to do other things outside of football, I’m a human being. It’s not a case of 24/7 eating, thinking, breathing soccer. I have a life outside of the game.”

McKennie certainly speaks often from experience and he is slightly older than the 25.7 average age of his club’s squad.Juventus have one of the youngest rosters in Serie A this season and as one of their ‘elder’ statesmen, the USMNT international believes he knows how they will curb their costly habit of drawing games.

On one hand, coach Thiago Motta’s outfit is unbeaten in 21 league matches this season, but they sit only fifth in the table, two points off the top four places that mean Champions League qualification, after eight wins and, remarkably, 13 draws.“We’re not in a terrible position, but it’s not great either,” McKennie says. “When you hear a team has gone unbeaten, they’re usually in first place. In our case, that’s not it. I think it comes down to little moments of concentration and shooting ourselves in the foot. We can close out a game and win a game, but there can be that little slip-up or missed clearance that seems to be happening at the moment.“Obviously it’s a bit different because we’re a young team compared to the (Juventus) teams before us and so there’s also an experience difference. We don’t go out there to tie games. But obviously, teams before us had the (Giorgio) Chiellinis and (Leonardo) Bonuccis, (Paulo) Dybalas and Cristianos (Ronaldo). They have won big things and they knew how to win.

Cristiano Ronaldo brought his skills to Juventus in 2018 (Nicolo Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

“Winning is not always going to look pretty and it may not always look the way people want football to be played. But if you’re winning 1-0 and there’s five minutes on the clock, then sometimes it’s the right thing to take the ball to the corner and waste time.

“We are eager and young and want to score goals so we are still trying to attack and sometimes leaving little holes here and there. But we’re making mistakes we can’t make.”

To go with his nous, McKennie has maintained an attacking threat this term despite playing in defence. As well as those four goals, including that sensational strike against City, he’s contributed three assists.

“I have always had it,” he says. “I have had it in storage, I guess you could say.

“Everything in life is like when it’s clicking, it’s clicking, and if it’s not, then it’s not. You can take many players in the world of football, or other sports, that have one crazy season when everything just falls for them and they’re always in the right place at the right time.“I have worked for that and trained my whole life to be in the best position to do that, but it’s like I say: when it clicks, it clicks. Hopefully, it continues and I can potentially pull off a season-best.”McKennie is a regular for the national team but, like most senior squad members based outside of the U.S., was not involved in new head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s camp this month that featured wins over Venezuela and Costa Rica and was a chance for other players, many from Major League Soccer, to show the Argentine and his staff what they can do.“It seems like it was a successful camp and I wouldn’t be surprised if I see one or two players from this camp in the next camp in March,” McKennie says. “I’m glad the players who were in camp were able to do their part and keep the pride for the team.”If results under new management have started to restore the team’s standing, it was necessary after a sobering summer when they flopped at a home Copa America, being eliminated at the end of the group phase.Now the dust has settled on that tournament, how does McKennie, who started all three of the USMNT’s games, reflect on the experience?“Obviously, we could have done way better than what we did,” he sighs. “I think we all know that. Silly mistakes. I can speak for myself, in that I didn’t have the best tournament or help the team as much as I knew I could.

“I’m just trying to have the type of performances I have for Juventus and translate them to the national team. That’s how you become a top player, someone that’s consistent and not just someone who conforms to one or the other. I don’t want that type of legacy.”

Still, McKennie emphasizes the importance of not dwelling too much on the past.

Looking forward, this weekend brings a challenge in the shape of a trip to in-form Napoli and the chance to get a result that could move Juventus back into those Champions League qualification spots.

“We definitely want to go there and leave a mark,” McKennie says. “It’s not like we’re afraid to go down there and play. The Juventus name holds some weight as well. But the name of Juventus can only carry you so far and it’s the players that have to take the next step and pull out a win and not another draw.”

Napoli are riding high during a campaign with three former Premier League players, including Scotland internationals Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, previously of Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, in their midfield. After his spell in England on loan at Leeds United in the second half of the 2022-23 season, what does McKennie make of more English-based players, a group joined this week by Manchester City’s Kyle Walker signing for Milan, moving to Italy.

Scott McTominay has adapted well to life in Serie A (Ivan Romano/Getty Images)

“From my experience in England, you can expect players that run a lot, are technically sound and are rough,” he says. “The Italian league has always been known for its defence and I think players like that making jumps here and other big players from other countries doing the same coming to teams like Napoli, Milan and Juventus just shows the quality is growing.

“Italians really love Italian players and want to keep Italians in their league, but I think it’s become a little bit more open-minded and foreign players are adapting better. They enjoy it and the lifestyle is amazing here. It’s not always gray (weather), like England. You can have some sunlight and you’re close to many good things, so I think that’s why more players are coming here and being successful.”

On Saturday evening, McKennie hopes he and compatriot Tim Weah can help Juventus spoil the mood in Naples, but beyond that, he is as wary of looking too far forward as he is about going over old memories, good and bad.

“It’s like my Manchester City goal,” he says. “I was tagged in lots of stories for it on my Instagram that night and I probably saw it like 100 times. That was enough for me. Searching it back and looking for it? No.

“Juventus is a club that always has expectations and needs to be in the Champions League. But right now we’re not trying to focus on what the end of the season looks like. Think too far ahead and you can lose that concentration.

“It’s like when people ask me about the World Cup (next year, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, and staging the majority of matches). I always say life is life and anything can happen. I can speak about it all I want and (then) maybe I’m not even playing at it or on the roster.

“At the end of the day, we can only take on what is in front of us.”

(Top photo: Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)