When Juventus and PSV meet in the Champions League, Individuals will probably be on full show resulting from every squad having a number of members of the US males’s nationwide crew of their setups. Gamers like Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and even Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi are well-known to USMNT watchers. However, the one participant who might have the largest position will be the final to come back to thoughts. PSV proper again Richard Ledezma has been thrown into a brand new place this season and is flourishing whereas serving to fill the void left by Sergino Dest’s ACL damage at proper again.
Ledezma is of course an attacking midfielder and has truly appeared in each midfield or attacking place earlier than this season, however when Peter Bosz got here to him earlier than PSV’s first sport of the season and mentioned, you are a proper again now, he stepped up. PSV has stored two consecutive clear sheets in Eredivisie play, solely permitting three targets whereas scoring 20 and Ledezma’s defensive and attacking play has been key to each.
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“When the coach first informed me I used to be taking part in proper again it was the day earlier than the sport I keep in mind, Jordan Teze was making his transfer to Monaco, and when he informed me I used to be a bit in shock,” Ledezma mentioned concerning the transition on CBS Sport Golazo’s Morning Footy. “However, I used to be able to be on the pitch after a very long time with PSV. It has been very nice taking part in and such as you mentioned I performed my first 90 minutes for PSV and it is a studying expertise and a course of, but it surely’s been enjoyable.”
Regardless of being within the PSV system since 2019, after making a transfer to the Netherlands from Actual Salt Lake, Ledezma struggled to make common appearances for the membership earlier than this season. A mortgage to New York Metropolis FC that noticed Ledezma play everywhere in the pitch ended up being transformative, resulting from common minutes permitting him make an impression on the teaching employees. Ledezma simply might’ve pushed for a transfer that assured first crew soccer through the summer season, however as an alternative sticking issues out has ended with him now in a vital position for PSV.
Defenders are anticipated to be sturdy in possession beneath Bosz and Ledezma’s attacking expertise helps out with that. Taking part in throughout on the Yankee Stadium pitch, he needed to be very conscious of bounces of the ball and the way they affect play which interprets on to protection.
“I’ve a successful mentality now and my dream was to at all times play in Europe and that is an enormous a part of me, to at all times attempt to play on the high stage,” Ledezma mentioned. “After I got here again from NYCFC I acquired a chance and I am taking it nicely, so I hope that I can preserve occurring the identical monitor.”
That dream will probably be taken to a brand new stage on Tuesday towards Juventus within the largest sport of Ledezma’s younger profession up to now. PSV has their eyes set on making the knockouts and protection will probably be essential in serving to get them there. If Ledezma can proceed his sturdy performances, knockout stage soccer will not be the one factor in his future.
Whereas he’d be honored to symbolize the USMNT on the worldwide stage, he is nonetheless not cap tied and hasn’t closed the door on representing Mexico in the event that they name. The newest twin nationwide pull might be coming sooner or later however for now, Ledezma will probably be centered on the duty at hand, main PSV so far as attainable in Champions League play.
How you can watch and odds
- Date: Tuesday, September 17 | Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Allianz Stadium – Turin, Italy
- Watch: Paramount+
- Odds: Juventus -130; Draw +270; PSV +340
