Quotes from Christian Pulisic

I try to have an impact on every game, whether it's by making runs or using quick moves to try to get by defenders or making a nice pass to help my team.

I've been fortunate that I have good athletic ability, just in general. Quick, strong, able to bounce off players, trying to be strong in winning tackles, and annoying to play against, pretty much.

Being with Dortmund and playing in more big games there, it's just gaining experience.

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.

Sometimes you have to take a risk if you want great things to happen.

If you want to be at the highest level, then you have to really work hard every day.

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.

I always had a soccer ball with me. I could never stop. As young as I can remember, my dad was always throwing a soccer ball at me.

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.

It's a fast learning process if you want to be successful at the highest level.

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.'

It's my biggest dream as a soccer player: I always wanted to play in the World Cup.

I love watching the game, and I loved watching the World Cup.

The World Cup is as big as it gets.

I've already played against some of my biggest idols.

I've always been hard on myself, so I expect so much out of myself that that pressure can be inspiring at time.

I try to focus on the next week and the next game every time, focus on what I'm doing right now and just to continue to improve every single day. If I do that, I should have a good future.

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.

When I put on the U.S. jersey, I play for myself, I play for my family, and I play for the team. That's really all I do.

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 took the step over to Europe to play at a big club at a young age. I think that's what's hard for a lot of people, moving over there.

I've experienced first-hand how the system is in Germany. I've seen how well-developed and professional they are, even at a young age. I learned and grew so much as an individual there.

Obviously, making my debut at such a young age, people put a lot of pressure on you.

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.