Weston McKennie celebrates his goal for Juventus against Pafos in the Champions League (@juventusfc)
Weston McKennie insisted Juventus must look forward rather than dwell on frustration after being held to a 1-1 draw by Lecce.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, via TuttoJuve, the American midfielder felt the performance itself should offer encouragement.
“I don’t think this match should scare us,” McKennie said. “We played a good game. We were missing the final pass and penalties can be missed by anyone. That’s football, you have to move on and focus on the next match.”
McKennie reflects on changing role at Juventus
Asked whether it felt like a missed opportunity, McKennie struck a balanced tone. “Yes and no,” he explained.
“Matches like this can help you move up the table, so of course you feel a bit frustrated. But you can’t think about missed chances. You have to keep going forward.”
McKennie was also deployed in a more advanced role and said he was comfortable operating behind the forwards. “It’s not a new position for me,” he said.
“I’m always available for the coach and the team and I try to give 100 percent wherever I play. I like the trequartista role because you can help both defensively and offensively.”
The midfielder was keen to defend teammate David after the missed penalty, stressing the importance of unity within the squad. “He doesn’t have to apologise to the team,” McKennie said. “This is football. We have to support him and keep his head up. He shouldn’t think about it anymore, hopefully he’ll score in the next match.”
Juventus now turn their attention to the upcoming fixture, determined to ensure a strong display is matched by a winning result next time out.
