As Juventus prepares to face AC Milan at the iconic San Siro on Saturday, Tim Weah looks to make an impact as he potentially steps into a central forward position. This match carries special significance for Weah, as it is against the team that his father, the legendary George Weah, once excelled with.
Juventus enters this game without their leading scorer, Dusan Vlahovic, who has netted nine goals this season but sustained an injury during international duty with Serbia. He will be sidelined for the encounter, joined on the injury list by Gleison Bremer, Nico Gonzalez, Arkadiusz Milik, Douglas Luiz, Juan Cabal, and Vasilije Adzic.
Coach Thiago Motta emphasized the diverse qualities his players offer despite their usual positions on the field. He noted, “All my players have different characteristics, that go beyond whether they’re a center forward or a midfielder. That’s interesting because it gives us alternatives, different solutions, and that’s how it will be tomorrow too.” Motta is hopeful that Vlahovic will return for an upcoming Champions League match against Aston Villa, but in the interim, he expects Weah to lead the offensive line for Juventus.
Tim Weah, typically found on the right wing, showcased his talent up front in a recent friendly against Juventus’ Under-17 squad, where he scored twice. Should Weah take on the striker role at San Siro, it will echo the legacy of his father, George Weah, who was prolific at AC Milan, scoring 58 goals and providing 36 assists during his time with the Rossoneri.
It’s quite possible that George Weah will be in attendance to support his son, just as he did in Turin when Tim scored against Torino, helping Juventus secure a 2-0 derby win. That goal marked Tim’s fourth of the league season, with an impressive streak of three goals in the last four games, including a notable performance at San Siro in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Inter Milan. Having recovered from an early-season injury, Weah is finding his rhythm just in time. Additionally, he scored for the United States in a 4-2 victory over Jamaica earlier this week.
Motta expressed his satisfaction with Weah’s current form, stating, “I like everything about him at the moment, everything he does. I really like it that he’s scoring. That’s very important for the players.” He went on to commend Weah’s adaptability, mentioning, “He’s a very interesting player because he gives you a lot of alternative solutions. He can play on the right and on the left. He’s generous and responsible. He understands what the team needs and gives it that. We’re happy that he’s with us and he must continue like this.”
With only eight league appearances under his belt, three of which were as a substitute, Weah’s goals-to-minutes ratio surpasses that of Vlahovic. Achieving a fifth goal this season would help Weah match his personal best from his time at Lille during the 2020-21 season. This stands in stark contrast to his debut season at Juventus, where he struggled to make an impact, netting only one goal across 35 matches. The shift in coaching styles to Motta’s more fluid system has allowed Weah to flourish compared to the more conservative approach taken by Massimiliano Allegri during his earlier tenure.
Currently, Juventus is the only unbeaten team in Serie A after 12 matches, sitting just two points behind Napoli, while AC Milan lingers six points off the pace but has played one game less.