FC Schalke: The many moods of Weston McKennie are welcome
By Josh Sippie
FC Schalke don’t often live or die by the whims of Weston McKennie, but with the Revierderby around the corner, come what may, the American must start.
There are too many thrilling match-ups to look forward to in the coming Revierderby. Will FC Schalke finally see a goal from Guido Burgstaller? Will Salif Sane be enough to stand up to that talented attack? Can Amine Harit dissect the Dortmund defense and, more on topic… what will Weston McKennie do?
Easily one of the most exciting players on the team, for better and worse (but mostly better), McKennie has enough energy and intensity to power a small village, if you could convert it to electric power, but when it comes to Borussia Dortmund, McKennie always seems to find another level. To the point that he’s akin to Voltorb—just as likely to use thunderbolt as he is to use self-destruct.
I love Weston McKennie, as I’m sure everyone else does too (I still have a Christmas card from him framed on my mantle), but the Reviederby always seems to be the lighter fluid on his fire.
Which isn’t a bad thing. Except for when it is.
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McKennie has a spotted past in the rivalry matches. He always, always shows up on the intensity side of things. He always shows up and shoulders the pressure, but sometimes it can get the better of him and put him in an awkward spot because, as we all know, a yellow-carded Weston McKennie is a dangerous thing.
We will need someone to control the midfield, to drive with the ball and out-duel Axel Witsel, and McKennie is our best chance at that simply because McKennie is capable of so much that the risk of self-destruct is exacerbated by his potential to do well.
He was clearly lacking against Hoffenheim, for instance. While creation and finishing are both far from McKennie’s lane, the young American is always willing to be the wrecking ball that slams into any obstacle in FC Schalke’s way. And that was sorely lacking, as Amine Harit couldn’t pick the lock on his own.
The brunt force and brutish effectiveness that McKennie brings is something that can appear in many different forms, many moods. But whatever his mood or form, he has a huge part to play against Dortmund one way or the other. Now the only question is what part he settles in to.
Next. 5 Key Players vs Dortmund. dark
Or maybe he will still be hurt and no Weston McKennie will show up. But that’s just not as fun, is it?