McKennie and Weah's New Manager

American Duo Adapt to New Roles in Tudor's Juventus Debut

In a significant turning point for Juventus, American internationals Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah played their roles in the Bianconeri's 1-0 victory over Genoa at the Allianz Stadium. The match marked Igor Tudor's debut as head coach following Thiago Motta's dismissal after just 42 games.

McKennie, a favorite under Motta, demonstrated his versatility by adapting to Tudor's new 3-4-2-1 formation. The 26-year-old Texan was deployed as a left wing-back and played the full 90 minutes, recording impressive statistics with 84% pass accuracy and winning 6-of-11 ground duels. His defensive contributions included four successful tackles as he effectively stifled Genoa's attacks from his flank.

Before the match, McKennie expressed optimism about the coaching change, telling DAZN: "Tudor brought experience too, because he knows full well what Juventus is like as a club, because he played here and was also assistant manager under Pirlo. He knows everything about this club. I am happy, the team is happy, and we are ready."

Weah, meanwhile, came off the bench in the 82nd minute, operating as a right wing-back with greater offensive responsibilities than McKennie. Despite limited time on the pitch, the American made an impact with perfect passing accuracy and nearly added a second goal with a powerful effort from inside the box that was saved by Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali.

The victory was secured by Kenan Yildiz's first-half goal after a throw-in facilitated by Tudor, who quickly gathered the ball on the sideline and tossed it to Teun Koopmeiners. The win helped Juventus remain in fifth place, just one point behind Bologna in the race for Champions League qualification.

For both Americans, this match represented an opportunity to put behind them the disappointment of the recent CONCACAF Nations League Finals. As Tudor begins his tenure at Juventus, McKennie and Weah's adaptability may prove vital to their continued roles with the Italian giants.