I like to think of myself as a tough kid.

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 feel like people put pressure on me, and that makes me put pressure on myself, which isn't needed.

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 what we really want to do is to create a real soccer nation. We want to have kids really wanting to play the sport.

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.

Of course I always dream big, but I don't put a plan out for myself.

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

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

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

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.

It was definitely tough being the coach's son.

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 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 was always out playing sports in situations that didn't matter with my friends.

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 pretty quiet, but my best quality is leading by example.

I just play because I enjoy the sport.

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 just like to be on the field really anywhere.

CONCACAF games are tough.

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

It's been a big flaw of ours in the soccer department that a lot of our best athletes go and play other sports. But I think young players have seen me, and others, go over to Europe and play in some of the best leagues - and MLS is improving so much, too.

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.

I don't put any extra pressure on myself for national team games.

When you play against the best players, you're going to grow.

What I learned is that nothing is given easy to you.

I love having the ball, just running with it, and going through difficult situations. It's just fun for me whenever I have it.

I'm going to continue to be the same attacking style that I've always been. I'm not going to change it because of how other teams are treating me.

I love playing with the national team. I love being here as much as I can.

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.

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

Tuchel always just trusted me and gave me a chance. Of course, he's given me tips and feedback with what he sees every day in training and stuff like that, small things.

If I can inspire kids to do what I do - want to become professional soccer players - then I think that that's everything I want to do.

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.

As a kid, I just always learned that if you want to be the best, you have to play against the best.

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.

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.

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'm an attacking midfielder.

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?

I think - I hope - that we're going to be able to build something here with U.S. Soccer, where it's not just going to be about one lost match or one lost cycle or one lost team. It's going to be about an entire country rallying around an entire sport in a way that lasts.

I've always been a pretty good athlete.

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'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.

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.

I like to think of myself as a creative player.

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.