I just try to show no fear when I go on the field every time.
Christian Pulisic
I was always very small, so growing up, I was always getting kicked around. It was something I kind of grew up with.
I'm not saying the U.S. system is poor at all, because I learned a lot from it. There's a lot of great coaches and good things I did there as well.
As a kid, I just always learned that if you want to be the best, you have to play against the best.
I've always expected a lot out of myself, and it can be a good quality. But it can be bad at times, too.
I think I've just been able to stay balanced, and my family has helped me through that. And with that, I just can continue to develop because I work hard every day.
The pressure I give myself from within is what drives me.
I just try to do the best I can for myself and the people around me.
I can jump high; I can dunk - nobody really believes that I can.
If you want to be at the highest level, then you have to really work hard every day.
Of course I always dream big, but I don't put a plan out for myself.
Why is it that E.U. players are allowed to move country once they turn 16... but non-Europeans can only do so at 18? Why aren't we campaigning for a level playing field, where our best 16 year olds - who may not have an E.U. passport like I had - are free to move when they turn 16, like the best young players in Europe can?
It's a fast learning process if you want to be successful at the highest level.
It's definitely one of my biggest passions - I played every day after school with all my friends from high school in Pennsylvania. They weren't really soccer players, so we would play basketball all the time.
Sometimes you have to take a risk if you want great things to happen.
My coaches taught me a lot is about taking the first touch positive, and I think that's what I've tried to base my game off of. A big part of it is being aggressive.
The biggest thing my dad taught me was to play without fear.
I set my own personal goals; I'm not playing to satisfy fans.
I'm trying to become just more clinical in every situation, whether it's the final pass, the final shot, or whatever it is.
My family, and just the people around me in my life - you know, my friends - they take care of me, and whenever I'm too high, they bring me right down, and when I'm too low, they pick me up.
It really does frustrate me when I watch MLS, and I see our best U-17 players - who, again, are so talented and so capable - being rostered... but then not being put on the field much to actually play. I watch that, and I just think about how I was given a chance... a real chance... and it changed my life.
Being able to play at club level at a high level and then getting called into the national team, it's amazing.
I put enough pressure on myself.
I think it's good to have competition.
I think it's normal to have competition once you get to the professional level.
LeBron James has always been the biggest one - I just love to watch him. I'm a big fan, and he's a big inspiration of mine.
I played one year of competitive basketball, actually. I don't remember what grade I was in, maybe middle school or something. I was the point guard - I was the smallest one always. I did my best; I thought I did pretty good. I was always a little bit better at soccer, so I had to make the decision.
Just knowing that people are going to the game or something with your jersey on and supporting you is really exciting and was a dream of mine. Every time I see it at Dortmund, at games, it's still exciting and gets you really excited to play.
I've already played against some of my biggest idols.
Lionel Messi, getting to meet him, you're a little star-struck in the beginning, of course.
I always tried to bring confidence to the game.
The expectations some Americans put on me is too much, is what I would say. But I don't take it that way. I know no one means harm to me like that or wanting to put too much pressure on me.
I love watching the game, and I loved watching the World Cup.
When it comes to cup competitions and the Champions League, it's always about going as far as we can. Getting out of the group stage is the first objective, then after that, we will see.
I think, with soccer, you never really know what's going to happen in your career - that's the beauty of it.
It's always tough when you see a good player leave. It's not easy.
I was very young, but I just remember going to school every day in England, which I didn't enjoy. Every day, as soon as the bell would ring, we would go out and be on this little - it looked like a basketball court, but it was a soccer court with goals and a hard floor.
A lot of people have asked me what's it like being an American player in Europe. 'Do you have to earn more respect because you're American?' But I don't think it's like that at all. I think if you're good, you're good. They don't care where you're from or anything like that.
I was watching the 2014 World Cup, and I was playing with the U-17s, I think, at the time. I remember watching it in the summer, and I was like, 'You know what? It's a pretty crazy goal, but I want to be there in 2018.'
The World Cup is as big as it gets.
I've always said that there's a bit of a different sense of pride when you're playing for your national team.
I think any kid wants to get on the field as much as he can.
I played with the youth national team, I played in some CONCACAF games, and it's always physical; it's always intense.
Luckily, I've just had a lot of people around me that have helped me through it because I wouldn't even be close to where I am if I didn't have the support system I do. I wouldn't be able to do it on my own.
I've always been hard on myself, so I expect so much out of myself that that pressure can be inspiring at time.
I learned a lot in the Bundesliga, just playing with these very physical players, playing quickly.
I think it's important to make clear, you know, that the problem with American soccer... it isn't talent.
In the U.S. system, too often the best player on an under-17 team will be treated like a 'star' - not having to work for the ball, being the focus of the offense at all times, etc. - at a time when they should be having to fight tooth and nail for their spot.
I was always, you know, a decent player growing up. And yes, I was born with a certain amount of so-called 'natural ability.' But I also worked and sacrificed a lot to try to maximize what I was born with - which I think is important to point out.
I'm not a prodigy - or a 'wonderboy,' as some have put it.
