I wanted to create a data visualization to show just how much Weston McKennie has evolved his two-way game this season at Juventus. He was initially brought in to be a ball-winner but has ended up being one of the most dynamic & complete midfielders in all of Serie A.
Everyone expected for McKennie to be a leading defensive contributor for Juventus. But few knew he was even capable of the elite offensive contribution he has shown this season. (Gregg Berhalter was called crazy when he said McKennie can be a top 2-way player a while back)
When I say elite, I don’t say that lightly. McKennie is in elite company in his offensive creation as a midfielder this season. He is 2nd in xG + xA P/90 and 7th in Shot Creating Actions P/90 out of all Serie A midfielders. Many of whom play higher up the field compared to Weston
To really demonstrate McKennie’s impact on Juventus’ offense as a whole, I calculated what Juventus’ average xG per game is when McKennie does and doesn’t start. I found that when McKennie starts for Juve that their xG per game increases by a whopping 0.92!
There are multiple variables that influence this number like opponent strength, but it’s still showing just how important McKennie is to Juventus’ offense. His impact can clearly be seen just watching Juventus. They just look more dynamic when he is on the pitch. Very impressive.
McKennie is also very crucial to Juventus’ high pressing system. The main reason he was brought in. Pirlo needed a high energy ball-winner to immediately win the ball back when Juventus loses possession. McKennie, unsurprisingly, is one of the best and most active pressers in Serie A.
We can see here in this scatterplot just how good he is at pressing. It is important to notice just how much McKennie presses and how successful he is at it. Only 5 midfielders in Serie A press more per 90 than McKennie, but yet he manages to keep a top pressure success rate.
While McKennie’s tackles won per 90 is solid, he has to improve his interceptions per 90. He is just barely missing out on being in the upper right quartile which is where the best ball-winning midfielders in Seria A reside like Locatelli, De Roon, Leiva, and Badelj.
With that said though, the majority of the best balling-winning midfielders according to this plot don’t come anywhere close to the offensive contribution McKennie provides. Just further highlighting McKennie’s elite ability to impact games on both sides of the pitch.
McKennie has really stepped up this season & added an elite offensive side of his game that no one predicted (except Berhalter). McKennie has undoubtedly been Juventus’ best midfielder this season & has been one of the most complete & and best midfielders in Serie A period.
0 Comments