I think what we really want to do is to create a real soccer nation. We want to have kids really wanting to play the sport.
— Christian Pulisic
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'm just trying to live in the moment and do the best I can for myself and for my teammates, and that's all I can really focus on.
It's my biggest dream as a soccer player: I always wanted to play in the World Cup.
I'm not a prodigy - or a 'wonderboy,' as some have put it.
I think it's important to make clear, you know, that the problem with American soccer... it isn't talent.
I've always been hard on myself, so I expect so much out of myself that that pressure can be inspiring at time.
I played with the youth national team, I played in some CONCACAF games, and it's always physical; it's always intense.
I've always said that there's a bit of a different sense of pride when you're playing for your national team.
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.
It's always tough when you see a good player leave. It's not easy.
I love watching the game, and I loved watching the World Cup.
Lionel Messi, getting to meet him, you're a little star-struck in the beginning, of course.
I can jump high; I can dunk - nobody really believes that I can.
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 put enough pressure on myself.
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.
I would say the youth systems in Germany have impressed me the most and how they grow their youth players into full professionals.
I feel like people put pressure on me, and that makes me put pressure on myself, which isn't needed.
I like to think of myself as a tough kid.
It's been a dream of mine to play for the U.S. national team.
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 just try to show no fear when I go on the field every time.
The pressure I give myself from within is what drives me.
I think any kid wants to get on the field as much as he can.
The World Cup is as big as it gets.
Sometimes you have to take a risk if you want great things to happen.
I think, with soccer, you never really know what's going to happen in your career - that's the beauty of it.
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've already played against some of my biggest idols.
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.
I think it's normal to have competition once you get to the professional level.
I just try to do the best I can for myself and the people around me.
If you want to be at the highest level, then you have to really work hard every day.
In my hometown, people I didn't even know started to recognize me: 'Oh, you're that kid that's doing well over there in Europe and with the national team!'
I'm trying to become just more clinical in every situation, whether it's the final pass, the final shot, or whatever it is.
I'm not super outgoing, but I think the biggest thing I can do is lead by example.
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 learned a lot in the Bundesliga, just playing with these very physical players, playing quickly.
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 was always very small, so growing up, I was always getting kicked around. It was something I kind of grew up with.
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.'
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.
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 always tried to bring confidence to the game.
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.
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.
I think it's good to have competition.
Being able to play at club level at a high level and then getting called into the national team, it's amazing.
