Weston McKennie has detailed how his preferred position is as a box-to-box midfielder following his arrival at Leeds United last night.
Leeds swooped to sign McKennie on loan from Juventus, with the USMNT midfielder joining with a view to a permanent agreement.
Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson are international teammates of the 24-year-old, with Adams playing alongside McKennie in part of a midfield three during the World Cup in Qatar.
McKennie has revealed that the box-to-box midfield role as a No.8 is his best position, despite ability to play across the midfield, as well as at right-back or right wing-back.
“I like the number eight role, going box to box, trying to create plays and then getting back defensively.“
McKennie, via Leeds’ official website
That offers Marsch an interesting headache tactically.
Leeds started the season with a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Adams and Marc Roca were his midfield pivot. However, post-World Cup, he’s been leaning on a 4-3-3 more heavily, with Jack Harrison one player trialed in a No.8 position.
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McKennie’s arrival fits perfectly with Marsch’s 4-3-3.
It’s the system that two of his midfield options thrived in during the World Cup, with McKennie more of a natural fit than someone like Harrison in that box-to-box midfield role.
Adams obviously needs to be retained, whilst Roca’s ball-playing ability means he’s needed in the midfield as well. Fitting McKennie in is straightforward in a 4-3-3, structuring a system to his strengths.
In turn it also allows Harrison to push forwards into an attacking position once again, adding to the plethora of depth Marsch already has available to him.