Quotes from Christian Pulisic

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 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.

It's really exciting and pretty cool to see your own face on a playing card.

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 am just happy about every minute I can be on the pitch.

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.

When I was a kid, I collected a lot of cards from all different sports.

I think it's good to have competition.

I've never seen a town that's so connected and so proud of their team and so passionate about the game. That's what makes Dortmund stand out so much. The weather isn't very good, but it's just a great town to live in. It's really known for the soccer.

It's not just about getting the ball and figuring out every time how you can keep possession, because there are plenty of players who can do that. That's just not how I view my performances. It's about, What can I do to change the game and the attacking aspect of the game?

I would say the youth systems in Germany have impressed me the most and how they grow their youth players into full professionals.

In a moment, or type of pressure, you just go out, and I play like I always do. Because it's a big moment, I'm not going to shy away and not show my talents. I'll show what I can do and show it every game.

I'm working on my final ball, my precision in front of goal, my one-on-one attacking ability, just new ways to beat defenders and help my team.

The pressure I give myself from within is what drives me.

I've always been a pretty good athlete.

My dad taught me, like, no matter what, when I go out and play against these bigger players, just to be myself. I knew that I was good enough and that I had the ability to. I never shy away from anyone, and I don't think anyone should.

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.

Wherever I am on the field, I'm just trying to be an attacking presence and constantly be on their back four and try to make a difference in that way. So it doesn't matter where I play for my club.

I've always said that there's a bit of a different sense of pride when you're playing for your national team.

I want to inspire kids, and yeah, if that helps with expansion teams - in the MLS or anything like that - but my main goal is just to inspire. Try and inspire our youth.

I'm trying to become just more clinical in every situation, whether it's the final pass, the final shot, or whatever it is.

It's hard to always listen to your dad when you get older. You want to move on, but he has the knowledge. I think he did just the right amount of pushing me but also letting me do my thing, and just making sure that I always enjoyed the game, and I'm not feeling pressured.

I think it's important to make clear, you know, that the problem with American soccer... it isn't talent.