Christian Pulisic: "1,834 Days" (BVB)

Scrutinizer, Montag, 13.11.2017, 19:58 (vor 2346 Tagen) @ Redaktion schwatzgelb.de

Ziemlich authentisch wirkende Gedanken auf Player's Tribune.

Geht v.a. um US-Fußball, wäre daher ggf. in Allgemeine News besser aufgehoben. Geht aber auch darum, was es für ihn bedeutete, mit 16 nach Europa wechseln zu dürfen und bricht eine Lanze dafür, dass dies auch US-Jungs ohne europäischen Pass tun können, um sich zu entwickeln. Dass er die Notwendigkeit täglicher "humility" erwähnt, dürfte ihm bei seinem Ex-Trainer einige brownie points einbringen. ;)

As a result of my dual citizenship, I’ve been able to play in Europe, training at the Dortmund academy, since I was 16. Without it? I would have had to wait until I was 18. And for a soccer player … man, ask anyone and they’ll tell you — those age 16–18 years are everything. From a developmental perspective, it’s almost like this sweet spot: It’s the age where a player’s growth and skill sort of intersect, in just the right way — and where, with the right direction, a player can make their biggest leap in development by far.

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. In Europe, on the other hand, the average level of ability around you is just so much higher. It’s a pool of players where everyone has been “the best player,” and everyone is fighting for a spot — truly week in and week out. Which makes the intensity and humility that you need to bring to the field every day — both from a mental and physical perspective — just unlike anything that you can really experience in U.S. developmental soccer.

Without those experiences, there’s simply no way that I would be at anywhere close to the level that I am today.

theplayerstribune.com/christian-pulisic-usmnt-world-cup/