Cigars and ice baths at PSV Eindhoven, Chris Richards’ vintage display and the future of Weston McKennie are all part of this week’s USMNT player tracker.
Every week we bring you updates on how American players are performing in European leagues over the weekend.
With a Copa America to be hosted this year and the partially home 2026 World Cup looming ever closer on the horizon, we’re keeping an eye on their performances.
How to follow the Copa America on Athleticism…
Weekend question
Cigars, a few drinks and an impromptu ice bath for the boss: PSV’s American contingent created special memories as they celebrated the title victory in which they played a big part for the Dutch club.
Eindhoven completed their Eredivisie dominance on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Sparta Rotterdam that earned the club their first top-flight crown in six years.
Peter Bosz’s side needed just a draw to win what had seemed inevitable for months, such was their lead over second-placed Feyenoord, but they gave fans a touch of nerves after falling behind before to rally.
The hosts’ final goal was truly scored in America: USMNT’s Malik Tillman found compatriot Ricardo Pepi, who then assisted Dutch defender Jordan Teze.
It was only fitting that both USMNT men played a role in kicking off the celebration: each of the youngsters made an important contribution to their team’s tremendous season.
Tillman, 21, has scored nine league goals and provided 10 assists while Pepi, 21, largely reduced to a substitute role due to captain Luuk de Jong’s prolific form, still managed seven goals and two assists with just one league start to his name. .
The bittersweet element of the afternoon – from an American perspective – was right back Sergino Dest watching from the bench after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in training that left him ruled out of this summer’s Copa America.
But that didn’t stop the 23-year-old from joining in the celebrations after the final whistle. He played (carefully) with the league trophy before some of his teammates descended on manager Bosz’s press conference to drench the boss in bottles, then buckets, of ice water.
Tillman took a drag on a cigar in the locker room while the club’s director of football, Earnie Stewart, another former U.S. international, showed off his dance moves.
There are still two matches left before the end of the Eredivisie season, but it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the PSV American. trio. Dest was loaned out by Barcelona – a club he admitted it would be difficult to return to, with manager Xavi opting to stay in Catalonia. While PSV were keen to sign Dest, it remains to be seen how he will approach the situation, with his injury possibly ruling him out until the end of this year.
The most likely situation is that Dest returns to Barcelona to continue his rehabilitation, where he remains in contact until the summer of 2025.
Tillman is also on loan from Bayern Munich and has said he would be happy to stay at PSV permanently – although whoever takes over as manager of the German club, following the expected departure of Thomas Tuchel, may have a different view.
Pepi is the PSV player and is hoping to get more playing time next season as club legend De Jong turns 34 in August.
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Player of the Weekend
A clean sheet, a resounding victory and even an assist – it was a happy Monday for Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards.
The 24-year-old was excellent for the hosts in their eye-catching 4-0 win over Manchester United at Selhurst Park.
In his second campaign in the Premier League, Richards has admirably managed his shuttle between his favored role as center of defense, his new role as midfielder, and vice-versa. He has shone in the last three games under new manager Oliver Glasner and was in fine form against United, operating first on the left of the trio and then, following the introduction of Marc Guehi, moving to the right.
He even recorded an assist, allowing Jean-Philippe Mateta to score the home side’s second goal as Palace recorded home and away wins against United for the first time in their history. But, in typical centre-back fashion, Richards was happier with his clean sheet.
“It’s always good to win at home, and especially to have a clean sheet,” he told the Premier League before praising Glasner, who took over from Roy Hodgson in February. “The first half of the season I think we were a little too far away and he (Glasner) came in and said we need to go at every team and be aggressive and play up front. I think it pays off.
“We knew that if we could keep their (United) attack quiet we could get a good result. Now we want to finish the season on a good note and carry that momentum into the next one.
Richards, who cost the south London club an initial €12 million (£10.3 million; $12.9 million) from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022, has completed 84 % of his passes against United, winning both of his ground duels and two of his three aerial duels.
Quote of the weekend
“I have one year left on my contract and my agent is speaking with the director,” USMNT star Weston McKennie told DAZN after his Juventus team’s 1-1 draw against Roma on Sunday.
“I’d like to stay, obviously, but we’ll see what happens. I hope we can achieve this.
McKennie has enjoyed a much-improved season in Turin following his disappointing loan spell with Leeds United in the Premier League last season. But his contract with Juventus expires next summer and it remains to be seen whether he can agree a new deal with the club, for whom he has made 33 Serie A appearances and provided seven assists this season.
How did the other American players fare?
Name: Zach Booth
Club: Volendam
Position: Right midfielder
Appearances: 29
Goals: 4
The 20-year-old’s loan spell at Dutch club Volendam allowed him to play and improve, but he still had to endure the harsh reality of relegation from the Eredivisie.
Booth created Volendam’s only goal in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Ajax, meaning they are now seven points behind 16th-placed Excelsior with two matches remaining. Booth, on loan from Premier League-bound Leicester City, will hopefully have learned from the experience.
Name: Paxten Aaronson
Club: Speed
Position: Midfielder
Appearances (for Eintracht Frankfurt and Vitesse): 26
Goals: 4
Another difficult learning experience was experienced by a gifted young American on loan to the Netherlands this season.
Paxten Aaronsen’s loan club Vitesse had their relegation confirmed last month after the Dutch Football Association imposed an 18-point deduction for failing to comply with licensing rules. Aaronson, who joined the team in January, has at least enjoyed regular playing time and has started 12 games and scored four goals during his tenure so far.
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Name: Ethan Horvath
Club: City of Cardiff
Position: Goalie
Appearances: 16
An otherwise decent Championship loan spell with Cardiff City ended on a failed note for Horvath as he conceded five goals to already relegated Rotherham on Saturday. Horvath had kept four clean sheets in 16 appearances for the Welsh club, who finished 12th.
He hopes to represent his country at the Copa America.
Name: Christian Pulisic
Club: AC Milan
Position: Before
Appearances: 47
Goals: 13
Pulisic provided his seventh Serie A assist of the season, creating Olivier Giroud’s goal in Milan’s 3-3 draw with Genoa at home on Sunday, which allowed them to maintain their lead over Juventus in the battle to finish second behind rivals Inter with three games. remaining.
What’s coming?
(All times Eastern)
Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson could have a say in the Premier League title race as their Fulham side take on Manchester City on Saturday (7.30am, Peacock Premium). Already relegated Sheffield United of Auston Trusty face Everton on the same day (10am, Peacock Premium).
Later, see if Gio Reyna can help boost Nottingham Forest’s survival hopes against Chelsea (12:30 p.m., Peacock Premium).
Josh Sargent hopes to help Norwich City make a strong start to their play-off semi-final on Sunday as they aim for promotion to the Premier League. They face Leeds United (7 a.m.).
Finally, Milan of Pulisic and Yunus Musah will face Cagliari on Saturday (2:45 p.m., Paramount+).
(Top photos: Getty Images)