1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:03,586
You're watching "Pulisic"
2
00:00:03,620 --> 00:00:05,965
presented by Michelob Ultra.
3
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,482
Pulisic!
4
00:00:12,724 --> 00:00:16,862
US Soccer presents
the United States vs Brazil.
5
00:00:19,344 --> 00:00:21,586
I think when
Christian was really young,
6
00:00:21,620 --> 00:00:24,103
he excelled
in like all the sports.
7
00:00:27,655 --> 00:00:29,034
I mean, even five and six,
8
00:00:29,068 --> 00:00:30,448
he was a really
good soccer player
9
00:00:30,482 --> 00:00:34,000
but, um, did I think
he was gonna be professional?
10
00:00:34,034 --> 00:00:37,206
I really tried to keep
my head on my shoulders.
11
00:00:37,241 --> 00:00:38,517
Even though he was
a good athlete
12
00:00:38,551 --> 00:00:40,586
and he did things
really advanced,
13
00:00:40,620 --> 00:00:44,068
I just was like, you know,
it's such a small number,
14
00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:47,344
But I never thought
at a young age,
15
00:00:47,379 --> 00:00:49,586
"Oh, he's definitely
going to be a pro."
16
00:00:49,620 --> 00:00:51,413
I just--
I knew in the back of my head
17
00:00:51,448 --> 00:00:53,310
that he was a really good
athlete, but,
18
00:00:53,344 --> 00:00:54,655
you know, it's just--
it's not realistic.
19
00:00:56,586 --> 00:00:58,862
For me, the moment that
I look back on the most
20
00:00:58,896 --> 00:01:00,827
was the Nike Friendlies
Tournament.
21
00:01:00,862 --> 00:01:03,482
We beat Brazil and I won
the MVP of this tournament
22
00:01:03,517 --> 00:01:04,758
with the US Youth National Team.
23
00:01:06,965 --> 00:01:08,379
I saw Christian way back
24
00:01:08,413 --> 00:01:11,758
when he played for the U-17s
in a tournament in Florida.
25
00:01:11,793 --> 00:01:13,448
Pulisic goes around the defender,
26
00:01:13,482 --> 00:01:15,275
arm is being pulled,
he still has it.
27
00:01:15,310 --> 00:01:17,206
And yeah, it was a standout.
28
00:01:17,241 --> 00:01:18,551
He's on side, left foot,
29
00:01:18,586 --> 00:01:21,137
he'll pull it back,
shot, goal!
30
00:01:21,172 --> 00:01:24,758
Gallardo feeds it to Pulisic.
31
00:01:24,793 --> 00:01:26,413
Christian was always younger.
32
00:01:26,448 --> 00:01:28,137
I think he was a year younger
than that group.
33
00:01:28,172 --> 00:01:29,620
He was the smallest.
34
00:01:29,655 --> 00:01:31,896
If you look back at video,
you could see how tiny he was.
35
00:01:31,931 --> 00:01:35,344
And the United
States now has a 3-1 lead.
36
00:01:35,379 --> 00:01:37,137
But all his hard work
37
00:01:37,172 --> 00:01:38,724
of wanting to be that
on the national team
38
00:01:38,758 --> 00:01:40,344
and wanting to be
the best player
39
00:01:40,379 --> 00:01:42,793
kind of all came together
at that tournament.
40
00:01:43,827 --> 00:01:45,689
You could see that there's
a talent coming through
41
00:01:45,724 --> 00:01:47,862
that is special,
that is different,
42
00:01:47,896 --> 00:01:49,551
that is already on the field
43
00:01:49,586 --> 00:01:52,137
against teams
like England and Brazil.
44
00:01:52,172 --> 00:01:54,137
He's already
a difference maker.
45
00:01:54,172 --> 00:01:57,655
So I decided to follow him
a little bit
46
00:01:57,689 --> 00:01:59,068
from that moment on.
47
00:01:59,103 --> 00:02:00,758
The United States
48
00:02:00,793 --> 00:02:04,344
is your Nike International
Friendlies champions of 2013.
49
00:02:04,379 --> 00:02:06,000
It's just amazing
to be here right now.
50
00:02:06,034 --> 00:02:07,413
Our team's been working so hard.
51
00:02:07,448 --> 00:02:08,689
Everyone, every kid.
52
00:02:08,724 --> 00:02:10,655
And today it all showed
on the pitch
53
00:02:10,689 --> 00:02:12,137
and we just outplayed them.
54
00:02:12,172 --> 00:02:14,310
And I think we were
the better squad.
55
00:02:14,344 --> 00:02:16,103
And we got the W and won.
56
00:02:21,206 --> 00:02:22,724
They upset Brazil
in the final.
57
00:02:22,758 --> 00:02:25,137
He was named
Player of the Tournament.
58
00:02:25,172 --> 00:02:27,862
And that tournament
meant a lot to him.
59
00:02:27,896 --> 00:02:30,103
And talking to him
after that game,
60
00:02:30,137 --> 00:02:32,068
I mean,
there was no stopping him
61
00:02:32,103 --> 00:02:33,103
on the professional path.
62
00:02:34,482 --> 00:02:36,689
You know, some of the best
players in the world,
63
00:02:36,724 --> 00:02:38,206
at that age group were playing.
64
00:02:38,241 --> 00:02:40,241
I think that was the moment
where I thought,
65
00:02:40,275 --> 00:02:42,000
"I want to be a pro for sure."
66
00:02:42,034 --> 00:02:44,068
I know that if I--
if I do the right things,
67
00:02:44,103 --> 00:02:45,275
that I can do it.
68
00:02:45,310 --> 00:02:48,034
It's funny, I have
a tattoo dated on my arm.
69
00:02:48,068 --> 00:02:49,241
2013.
70
00:02:53,344 --> 00:02:55,413
Yeah.
Kids, don't get tattoos.
71
00:03:08,172 --> 00:03:11,379
I was living in Barcelona
and my company was based there
72
00:03:11,413 --> 00:03:15,586
and my American talent scouts
called us up and said,
73
00:03:15,620 --> 00:03:19,344
"There's this representative
team of American players
74
00:03:19,379 --> 00:03:21,586
"that are currently
in Barcelona
75
00:03:21,620 --> 00:03:23,482
"playing some matches
against some clubs
76
00:03:23,517 --> 00:03:24,689
"and they're gonna be playing
77
00:03:24,724 --> 00:03:27,827
"against FC Barcelona
tomorrow night.
78
00:03:27,862 --> 00:03:30,379
"You need to go and watch
this kid play.
79
00:03:30,413 --> 00:03:31,586
He's good."
80
00:03:31,620 --> 00:03:33,827
So I said to one of my staff,
81
00:03:33,862 --> 00:03:35,034
"Will you go watch the game
82
00:03:35,068 --> 00:03:37,103
and tell me
what you think tomorrow?"
83
00:03:37,137 --> 00:03:38,862
And he comes back into
the office the next day
84
00:03:38,896 --> 00:03:40,758
and I said,
"How did he play?"
85
00:03:40,793 --> 00:03:42,206
"Best player on the field."
86
00:03:42,241 --> 00:03:43,758
I said, "On the field?"
87
00:03:43,793 --> 00:03:45,034
They played Barcelona.
88
00:03:45,068 --> 00:03:48,172
Full strength team
of that age group.
89
00:03:48,206 --> 00:03:49,724
Best player on the field.
90
00:03:51,310 --> 00:03:52,310
Interesting.
91
00:03:53,379 --> 00:03:55,551
I remember
having coffee with Mark
92
00:03:55,586 --> 00:03:58,241
and I said to Mark,
"Mark, I love Barcelona.
93
00:03:58,275 --> 00:03:59,689
"I'm based here.
94
00:03:59,724 --> 00:04:01,586
"Wow, I would love
nothing better
95
00:04:01,620 --> 00:04:04,758
"than to see your son play
first team of FC Barcelona,
96
00:04:04,793 --> 00:04:08,620
but my advice is probably
to look elsewhere."
97
00:04:08,655 --> 00:04:11,931
"Yeah, but you know,
we'd love to go to England."
98
00:04:11,965 --> 00:04:13,793
"Yeah, but to be honest,
99
00:04:13,827 --> 00:04:17,379
no work permit,
he's under 16, etc., etc."
100
00:04:17,413 --> 00:04:19,172
"It's gonna be difficult.
101
00:04:19,206 --> 00:04:21,482
Let me see who's interested."
102
00:04:21,517 --> 00:04:23,137
Christian ended up
going to Arsenal.
103
00:04:23,172 --> 00:04:25,206
He was there for a week,
doing very well,
104
00:04:25,241 --> 00:04:28,310
but all I heard was, "Yeah,
but he's got no passport."
105
00:04:28,344 --> 00:04:31,000
There's actually
no point in him training.
106
00:04:32,103 --> 00:04:33,137
It was frustrating,
107
00:04:33,172 --> 00:04:35,517
but I think
it just confirmed to him
108
00:04:35,551 --> 00:04:37,413
the abilities he possessed
109
00:04:37,448 --> 00:04:40,172
and that he could take
this now to another level.
110
00:04:40,206 --> 00:04:42,344
So he just continued
to pursue
111
00:04:42,379 --> 00:04:47,068
and, sure enough,
Dortmund came calling.
112
00:04:52,379 --> 00:04:55,862
To go to a foreign country,
it's difficult.
113
00:04:55,896 --> 00:04:58,310
You're out of your comfort zone,
no doubt.
114
00:04:58,344 --> 00:05:01,275
You're forced to speak
in a different language,
115
00:05:01,310 --> 00:05:03,724
you're forced to figure out
ways to be successful
116
00:05:03,758 --> 00:05:05,586
and you're forced to grow.
117
00:05:07,310 --> 00:05:10,379
Because soccer
isn't innately American
118
00:05:10,413 --> 00:05:11,862
at this point in time,
119
00:05:11,896 --> 00:05:13,689
if you wanna go pro,
120
00:05:13,724 --> 00:05:15,793
if you want to play for Milan,
121
00:05:15,827 --> 00:05:18,620
you can't go to college,
122
00:05:18,655 --> 00:05:21,275
you can't play in the NCAA.
123
00:05:21,310 --> 00:05:23,724
You gotta do like Christian did.
124
00:05:23,758 --> 00:05:25,137
Go to Europe.
125
00:05:25,172 --> 00:05:28,241
If you see potential,
go to Europe.
126
00:05:28,275 --> 00:05:30,620
When I look at
Christian Pulisic's situation,
127
00:05:30,655 --> 00:05:32,689
it was the perfect
moment for him
128
00:05:32,724 --> 00:05:35,000
to go and grow as a person,
129
00:05:35,034 --> 00:05:36,310
off the pitch, on the pitch,
130
00:05:36,344 --> 00:05:37,931
to get the necessary training
131
00:05:37,965 --> 00:05:41,206
that was needed for
his ability at the time.
132
00:05:42,310 --> 00:05:44,758
You know, even
when I was only 13 or 14,
133
00:05:44,793 --> 00:05:47,379
I spoke with my dad
and he asked me
134
00:05:47,413 --> 00:05:48,827
what it really is
that I wanted to do.
135
00:05:48,862 --> 00:05:51,000
And I always said
I wanted to play
136
00:05:51,034 --> 00:05:52,103
at the highest level in Europe.
137
00:05:52,137 --> 00:05:53,793
That's what I want to do,
138
00:05:53,827 --> 00:05:55,103
I want to become
a professional there.
139
00:05:55,137 --> 00:05:57,448
But if I'm being honest,
when I was 13, 14,
140
00:05:57,482 --> 00:06:00,344
and even still 15,
I was thinking, I don't--
141
00:06:00,379 --> 00:06:02,862
I don't think there's any way
I could leave home right now.
142
00:06:04,310 --> 00:06:05,517
I don't know
if I was ready for it
143
00:06:05,551 --> 00:06:06,965
'cause that year
went so quickly.
144
00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,034
And then we had to make
decisions like, is this right?
145
00:06:09,068 --> 00:06:10,551
Should he go?
Should he stay?
146
00:06:10,586 --> 00:06:11,862
And Mark and I,
you know, we said,
147
00:06:11,896 --> 00:06:14,413
you know, he can't go alone.
He's too young.
148
00:06:14,448 --> 00:06:15,965
Just didn't think it was
the right thing to do.
149
00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,620
And for us as a family,
150
00:06:17,655 --> 00:06:20,172
you know, our daughter
was in high school.
151
00:06:20,206 --> 00:06:21,724
Like, you don't pull someone
out of high school
152
00:06:21,758 --> 00:06:23,448
and say, let's go again.
153
00:06:23,482 --> 00:06:25,413
It was time for her
to have her life as well.
154
00:06:25,448 --> 00:06:27,827
So the best decision,
decision for us was
155
00:06:27,862 --> 00:06:29,931
for me to stay back
and let her finish her year.
156
00:06:29,965 --> 00:06:32,310
And Mark was going to Dortmund.
157
00:06:32,344 --> 00:06:33,931
So that's when it got real.
158
00:06:33,965 --> 00:06:35,379
And it just got real fast.
159
00:06:38,137 --> 00:06:39,482
You okay?
160
00:06:39,517 --> 00:06:41,344
Leaving my family,
leaving my friends.
161
00:06:41,379 --> 00:06:43,000
I just-- It seemed--
162
00:06:43,034 --> 00:06:45,137
It seemed so scary to me,
163
00:06:45,172 --> 00:06:47,862
and it didn't become
any easier.
164
00:06:47,896 --> 00:06:50,103
I was terrified.
I was terrified to leave home.
165
00:06:50,137 --> 00:06:52,413
I was scared, I didn't know
if I was good enough.
166
00:06:52,448 --> 00:06:55,965
I didn't know if I had
a chance of making it pro.
167
00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,034
I was scared that
I would go do all this
168
00:06:59,068 --> 00:07:01,758
and ruin my chances
of maybe going to college
169
00:07:01,793 --> 00:07:05,103
or doing normal student
things and, you know,
170
00:07:05,137 --> 00:07:07,586
shutting down
a lot of options in my life.
171
00:07:07,620 --> 00:07:11,517
And I remember the decision
being incredibly hard.
172
00:07:11,551 --> 00:07:14,275
Was it easy? No.
173
00:07:14,310 --> 00:07:16,482
Was it terrible at times? Yes.
174
00:07:16,517 --> 00:07:18,931
Were we sad? Were we crying?
175
00:07:18,965 --> 00:07:20,482
Of course.
176
00:07:20,517 --> 00:07:22,137
I mean, I'll tell you,
that tape got thin,
177
00:07:22,172 --> 00:07:25,034
that was holding us together,
but it-- it did.
178
00:07:38,482 --> 00:07:40,206
Even though he was
very young at the time,
179
00:07:40,241 --> 00:07:42,586
and even though those
goodbyes were difficult,
180
00:07:42,620 --> 00:07:45,344
he had a vision and he knew
what he wanted to do.
181
00:07:45,379 --> 00:07:47,000
But not everything went well.
182
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,620
I remember the first week
183
00:07:50,655 --> 00:07:52,000
coming back from trainings
184
00:07:52,034 --> 00:07:53,310
and just telling my dad,
185
00:07:53,344 --> 00:07:55,655
"These kids don't like me,
not one bit."
186
00:07:55,689 --> 00:07:58,137
And it was the first time
I experienced that,
187
00:07:58,172 --> 00:08:00,517
because back in the US
with my team,
188
00:08:00,551 --> 00:08:02,724
I was the best player
and everyone loves me
189
00:08:02,758 --> 00:08:04,275
and have a great time
at training.
190
00:08:04,310 --> 00:08:07,896
And it's not guys making money
at that age already.
191
00:08:07,931 --> 00:08:10,689
And when you go into
an environment like that, it's--
192
00:08:10,724 --> 00:08:12,379
I don't want this guy
to take my spot.
193
00:08:12,413 --> 00:08:14,275
I was like, these kids
won't pass me the ball
194
00:08:14,310 --> 00:08:15,586
in training sessions.
195
00:08:15,620 --> 00:08:16,931
They don't want
to see me succeed.
196
00:08:16,965 --> 00:08:18,620
That's how it really felt.
197
00:08:18,655 --> 00:08:20,965
I don't know if I could've
done it to be honest, I don't.
198
00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,206
In order to play for
the youth teams there,
199
00:08:23,241 --> 00:08:25,068
he needed to be in school.
200
00:08:25,103 --> 00:08:28,000
And the nearest school where
all the academy players went
201
00:08:28,034 --> 00:08:29,655
was just a German school.
202
00:08:29,689 --> 00:08:31,655
Schooling in Germany
is not so easy
203
00:08:31,689 --> 00:08:35,034
because the language is,
yeah, it's really difficult.
204
00:08:35,068 --> 00:08:38,103
But there no possibility
to go to school in Germany
205
00:08:38,137 --> 00:08:39,793
without learning the language.
206
00:08:39,827 --> 00:08:42,551
And just because you are
very successful in sports,
207
00:08:42,586 --> 00:08:46,000
you still have to be treated
as a normal student here.
208
00:08:46,034 --> 00:08:49,448
I hated every second of it,
if I'm being honest.
209
00:08:49,482 --> 00:08:51,896
I had no clue
what classes I was in.
210
00:08:51,931 --> 00:08:53,379
I was so confused.
211
00:08:53,413 --> 00:08:54,793
I had to be
at the training ground
212
00:08:54,827 --> 00:08:56,241
to do an hour and a half
of German lesson,
213
00:08:56,275 --> 00:08:59,379
train with the team
until 7:38 p.m.
214
00:08:59,413 --> 00:09:02,034
and then I would go home,
have a quick dinner,
215
00:09:02,068 --> 00:09:03,896
go to sleep 'cause
I had to be up at 7 or 8
216
00:09:03,931 --> 00:09:06,172
to go to school the next day
and it felt like,
217
00:09:06,206 --> 00:09:08,137
"What am I doing this for?"
218
00:09:08,172 --> 00:09:09,758
"Am I even gonna
be able to play
219
00:09:09,793 --> 00:09:12,137
and have a chance to become
a professional here?"
220
00:09:12,172 --> 00:09:14,310
So he wants to do
all the things,
221
00:09:14,344 --> 00:09:15,551
the normal program
222
00:09:15,586 --> 00:09:18,034
and add on
to learn the language.
223
00:09:18,068 --> 00:09:20,275
That, for a young guy,
224
00:09:20,310 --> 00:09:22,655
is a lot of stuff, I think.
225
00:09:22,689 --> 00:09:25,689
Um, it was really impressive.
226
00:09:25,724 --> 00:09:28,586
To make that move
abroad into a foreign country,
227
00:09:28,620 --> 00:09:29,862
you haven't got that
infrastructure behind you
228
00:09:29,896 --> 00:09:31,137
with family and friends,
229
00:09:31,172 --> 00:09:32,758
different messages
you're getting from coaches,
230
00:09:32,793 --> 00:09:34,206
new teammates as well.
231
00:09:34,241 --> 00:09:36,482
So, to make that move
at such a young age,
232
00:09:36,517 --> 00:09:37,689
I mean, that takes some doing.
233
00:09:37,724 --> 00:09:38,793
That's not just
about your ability,
234
00:09:38,827 --> 00:09:40,172
that's about your mentality.
235
00:09:40,206 --> 00:09:43,137
Christian going
into first gear,
236
00:09:43,172 --> 00:09:48,137
does he shit his pants
or is it a smooth gear change?
237
00:09:48,172 --> 00:09:50,310
No matter
what kind of move you make,
238
00:09:50,344 --> 00:09:51,931
it's always a big change.
239
00:09:51,965 --> 00:09:54,931
- Nice.
- That's not bad.
240
00:09:54,965 --> 00:09:58,793
But now I'm sacrificing
my high school years
241
00:09:58,827 --> 00:10:00,482
of growing up in the States
242
00:10:00,517 --> 00:10:03,034
with the friends
that I knew my whole life.
243
00:10:03,068 --> 00:10:07,034
Christian,
navigating a roundabout.
244
00:10:07,068 --> 00:10:09,448
Yeah, it's too easy.
245
00:10:09,482 --> 00:10:11,344
Trying to learn
another language,
246
00:10:11,379 --> 00:10:13,620
not really understanding
what's going on in training,
247
00:10:13,655 --> 00:10:17,034
trying to adapt
and improve yourself.
248
00:10:17,068 --> 00:10:20,068
Yeah, into third gear,
good transition.
249
00:10:20,103 --> 00:10:21,758
There were some tough nights.
250
00:10:21,793 --> 00:10:23,448
I mean, he moved to
his first place in Dortmund
251
00:10:23,482 --> 00:10:24,724
where we lived together
252
00:10:24,758 --> 00:10:27,034
and we went and got
a Nerf basketball hoop.
253
00:10:27,068 --> 00:10:29,689
And every night
he'd come back from training
254
00:10:29,724 --> 00:10:32,724
and every night we would play
like a HORSE game
255
00:10:32,758 --> 00:10:35,000
on this little basketball
Nerf hoop.
256
00:10:35,034 --> 00:10:37,206
So we had many long
talks at night,
257
00:10:37,241 --> 00:10:40,034
just kind of, you know, seeing
where he was, what he wanted.
258
00:10:40,068 --> 00:10:43,482
And I said,
"Look, if it doesn't work,
259
00:10:43,517 --> 00:10:46,931
you're not enjoying it,
we go home."
260
00:10:48,206 --> 00:10:50,448
That was a...
interesting thing to hear.
261
00:10:50,482 --> 00:10:53,551
And I was, you know, he knew
what that would do to me.
262
00:10:53,586 --> 00:10:56,517
He said, "Go ahead, quit,
let's go home." You know?
263
00:10:56,551 --> 00:10:58,068
"You don't wanna be
a professional? No problem."
264
00:10:58,103 --> 00:11:02,344
And I, you know,
that didn't sit right with me.
265
00:11:02,379 --> 00:11:04,793
The last thing Christian
wants to do is go home
266
00:11:04,827 --> 00:11:07,379
and say,
"Hey, it didn't work out."
267
00:11:07,413 --> 00:11:09,551
It's just not his DNA.
268
00:11:09,586 --> 00:11:11,724
He knew I could do it
and I wanted to do it,
269
00:11:11,758 --> 00:11:14,068
and I wasn't gonna let
anything stop me.
270
00:11:14,103 --> 00:11:18,103
The advantage of Dortmund
is they will give young players
271
00:11:18,137 --> 00:11:20,241
an opportunity at a young age.
272
00:11:20,275 --> 00:11:21,689
And they're a big club.
273
00:11:21,724 --> 00:11:24,862
You learn about pressure
at a young age
274
00:11:24,896 --> 00:11:28,724
in a town that only
has a football team.
275
00:11:28,758 --> 00:11:31,551
It's the greatest education
you can have.
276
00:11:33,068 --> 00:11:35,724
Dortmund
is an amazing football city.
277
00:11:35,758 --> 00:11:37,965
Everybody grows up with it
in Borussia Dortmund.
278
00:11:38,965 --> 00:11:41,034
I was born here, grew up here,
279
00:11:41,068 --> 00:11:43,655
and when you grow up here,
you cannot go around it.
280
00:11:43,689 --> 00:11:46,275
It's 100% part of the life.
281
00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:48,517
And it was a big honor
to work for this club
282
00:11:48,551 --> 00:11:49,724
for such a long time
283
00:11:49,758 --> 00:11:51,965
as the youth coach
in Borussia Dortmund.
284
00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,310
And the job
was to develop players
285
00:11:55,344 --> 00:11:57,344
that can make it from Germany,
286
00:11:57,379 --> 00:11:59,551
but even one of the USA.
287
00:12:01,206 --> 00:12:03,448
Hannes Wolf was,
I believe,
288
00:12:03,482 --> 00:12:06,724
one of the major reasons
Christian succeeded at Dortmund
289
00:12:06,758 --> 00:12:11,034
and was given an opportunity
to become a professional player.
290
00:12:11,068 --> 00:12:13,655
He was that important
to Christian.
291
00:12:13,689 --> 00:12:15,517
I think it was
important that Christian
292
00:12:15,551 --> 00:12:17,931
and his family knew
that we really wanted him.
293
00:12:17,965 --> 00:12:20,827
It was my job to give
everybody full attention.
294
00:12:20,862 --> 00:12:23,586
But it's clear when you leave
your country and your continent
295
00:12:23,620 --> 00:12:26,206
with 15 years and you don't
understand the language,
296
00:12:26,241 --> 00:12:28,034
then it's completely clear
297
00:12:28,068 --> 00:12:29,758
that you have
to take care about him.
298
00:12:29,793 --> 00:12:31,965
And it was a very,
very special connection
299
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,793
from the very beginning.
300
00:12:33,827 --> 00:12:35,896
Maybe other coaches
would've said,
301
00:12:35,931 --> 00:12:37,896
"Hey, Christian,
sink or swim,"
302
00:12:37,931 --> 00:12:40,137
um, but Hannes didn't do that.
303
00:12:40,172 --> 00:12:42,931
They knew that we really
wanted the best for him
304
00:12:42,965 --> 00:12:45,482
in every moment,
and not only for the team
305
00:12:45,517 --> 00:12:47,241
and not only
for winning the next game.
306
00:12:47,275 --> 00:12:49,724
It was always
to develop a player
307
00:12:49,758 --> 00:12:51,896
who could make it to the top.
308
00:12:51,931 --> 00:12:55,068
He knew Christian's
personality and mentality,
309
00:12:55,103 --> 00:12:56,931
that he was very hard
on himself.
310
00:12:56,965 --> 00:12:59,620
Hannes recognized that
right away.
311
00:12:59,655 --> 00:13:01,206
He was very ambitious.
312
00:13:01,241 --> 00:13:02,827
And when you're ambitious
313
00:13:02,862 --> 00:13:04,413
and something doesn't work
like you want
314
00:13:04,448 --> 00:13:06,448
because you don't score a goal
or you miss a goal
315
00:13:06,482 --> 00:13:09,689
or something happens,
then it hurts.
316
00:13:09,724 --> 00:13:11,344
With other players,
it's completely different.
317
00:13:11,379 --> 00:13:14,000
You have to push them and bring
them into the intensity.
318
00:13:14,034 --> 00:13:15,965
With Christian,
I felt a difference.
319
00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,034
It was really about
taking the pressure out,
320
00:13:18,068 --> 00:13:21,275
because wanting it
was deeply inside of him.
321
00:13:32,482 --> 00:13:35,413
Hannes pushed
and would constantly speak
322
00:13:35,448 --> 00:13:37,793
with Juürgen Klopp
about Christian.
323
00:13:37,827 --> 00:13:39,724
I told Juürgen on the pitch,
324
00:13:39,758 --> 00:13:42,034
"I have a player, he will play
on his 17th birthday."
325
00:13:42,068 --> 00:13:43,551
"He will play with you."
326
00:13:43,586 --> 00:13:45,551
And they were laughing
a little bit because
327
00:13:45,586 --> 00:13:47,793
they didn't know
about him too much.
328
00:13:47,827 --> 00:13:49,206
And it's not easy to play
329
00:13:49,241 --> 00:13:50,758
in Borussia Dortmund
when you're 17, so that was--
330
00:13:52,034 --> 00:13:53,689
That was brave from me.
331
00:13:53,724 --> 00:13:56,206
You know, to me,
332
00:13:56,241 --> 00:13:58,413
that's a coach or a mentor,
333
00:13:58,448 --> 00:14:00,517
really believing in a player.
334
00:14:00,551 --> 00:14:03,586
I remember being in art class
and looking at my phone
335
00:14:03,620 --> 00:14:05,517
and I got a text
from Hannes and he said,
336
00:14:05,551 --> 00:14:08,206
"Hey, tonight you're training
with the first team."
337
00:14:08,241 --> 00:14:10,586
We had him in training
and I described him once.
338
00:14:10,620 --> 00:14:13,000
It was like in a comic.
339
00:14:13,034 --> 00:14:14,896
So when all these people
run together
340
00:14:14,931 --> 00:14:16,655
and there's dust
and stuff like this,
341
00:14:16,689 --> 00:14:18,448
we all have probably
the picture in our mind,
342
00:14:18,482 --> 00:14:20,620
and in the end, one gets out
343
00:14:20,655 --> 00:14:23,275
and looks completely untouched.
344
00:14:23,310 --> 00:14:26,034
In this case,
with a ball on his feet.
345
00:14:26,068 --> 00:14:27,517
That was Christian.
346
00:14:27,551 --> 00:14:29,724
I remember going in
training with the first team
347
00:14:29,758 --> 00:14:32,103
for the first time
and speaking to Juürgen
348
00:14:32,137 --> 00:14:36,034
and I mean, the way
this guy treated me was--
349
00:14:36,068 --> 00:14:37,103
I couldn't believe it.
350
00:14:37,137 --> 00:14:39,379
The way he shook my hand
and said hello
351
00:14:39,413 --> 00:14:42,482
and felt like he knew exactly
who I was, where I was from.
352
00:14:42,517 --> 00:14:45,620
To me, that was
a pretty incredible sign
353
00:14:45,655 --> 00:14:47,482
and something that you
don't even see a lot.
354
00:14:50,517 --> 00:14:52,137
I just like the story,
355
00:14:52,172 --> 00:14:55,103
this kind of Yugoslavian
background
356
00:14:55,137 --> 00:14:57,068
with a good attitude
for the sport,
357
00:14:57,103 --> 00:14:58,655
and that's the boy I saw.
358
00:14:58,689 --> 00:15:00,482
But when you are
manager of a team,
359
00:15:00,517 --> 00:15:03,137
it's not that you have
long, long, long conversations
360
00:15:03,172 --> 00:15:05,103
with players
they don't play yet.
361
00:15:05,137 --> 00:15:07,103
They come to training,
you look at that.
362
00:15:07,137 --> 00:15:10,793
Um, and then I left
pretty quickly.
363
00:15:12,724 --> 00:15:15,379
Juürgen Klopp
does take his final bow
364
00:15:15,413 --> 00:15:17,275
at the Signal Iduna Park.
365
00:15:17,310 --> 00:15:18,965
80,000-worth.
366
00:15:20,551 --> 00:15:21,965
Coaches are important.
367
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,172
Because they give opportunities.
368
00:15:24,206 --> 00:15:27,620
They are the gatekeepers in many
ways to success of that club.
369
00:15:27,655 --> 00:15:30,275
And when you're 16,
you love the fact
370
00:15:30,310 --> 00:15:32,724
that Juürgen Klopp
is the club's manager.
371
00:15:32,758 --> 00:15:34,724
But if you're honest
with yourself,
372
00:15:34,758 --> 00:15:37,379
the most important
part of the decision is
373
00:15:37,413 --> 00:15:39,724
what does this club stand for?
374
00:15:39,758 --> 00:15:43,068
I think that Germany is...
375
00:15:43,103 --> 00:15:46,448
is really exceptional
in the way they evaluate talent
376
00:15:46,482 --> 00:15:49,172
and they give talent
playing time
377
00:15:49,206 --> 00:15:50,689
very early in your career,
378
00:15:50,724 --> 00:15:52,655
if you have the qualities
379
00:15:52,689 --> 00:15:54,827
that you prove
on the training ground.
380
00:15:54,862 --> 00:15:56,862
And if you do that through
our training sessions
381
00:15:56,896 --> 00:15:58,103
week in, week out,
382
00:15:58,137 --> 00:16:01,344
we have the approach
in Germany that we say,
383
00:16:01,379 --> 00:16:03,241
"You know what, let's throw
him in the cold water
384
00:16:03,275 --> 00:16:04,896
and let him swim."
385
00:16:04,931 --> 00:16:07,896
So he starts in the youth
academies at Dortmund
386
00:16:07,931 --> 00:16:10,034
and I guess he immediately
turns heads there.
387
00:16:10,068 --> 00:16:12,034
And then at some point
Dortmund is ready
388
00:16:12,068 --> 00:16:14,034
to bring Christian Pulisic
into their games.
389
00:16:14,068 --> 00:16:16,275
But there is one
major problem with that.
390
00:16:16,310 --> 00:16:18,310
FIFA's Article 19.
391
00:16:18,344 --> 00:16:21,482
The challenge was
that he came at 15-years old.
392
00:16:21,517 --> 00:16:23,344
When you're from
European Union,
393
00:16:23,379 --> 00:16:25,103
you are able to play at 16,
394
00:16:25,137 --> 00:16:26,482
but when you're from America,
395
00:16:26,517 --> 00:16:28,172
you can only play
at 18-years old.
396
00:16:28,206 --> 00:16:30,551
So when Christian talks
about it was hard,
397
00:16:30,586 --> 00:16:31,620
that's a part of it.
398
00:16:31,655 --> 00:16:32,793
You come to another country,
399
00:16:32,827 --> 00:16:34,344
to another continent to play
football,
400
00:16:34,379 --> 00:16:36,241
to make it,
and then you cannot play.
401
00:16:36,275 --> 00:16:38,793
You're healthy, you don't have
an injury, but you cannot play.
402
00:16:40,137 --> 00:16:42,517
Christian
was only able to train
403
00:16:42,551 --> 00:16:45,068
with the U-17 team
at Dortmund.
404
00:16:45,103 --> 00:16:46,551
Good touch.
405
00:16:46,586 --> 00:16:48,275
When he went there,
he was not permitted
406
00:16:48,310 --> 00:16:50,655
to play games,
even with the youth team.
407
00:16:50,689 --> 00:16:52,310
Oh!
408
00:16:52,344 --> 00:16:54,000
On the day when we played,
409
00:16:54,034 --> 00:16:56,482
we organized the training
with Mark and the Footbonaut.
410
00:16:56,517 --> 00:16:58,068
The Footbonaut is a machine
where you can train
411
00:16:58,103 --> 00:16:59,413
with your first touch.
412
00:16:59,448 --> 00:17:02,068
And I think Christian played
400 to 500 touches
413
00:17:02,103 --> 00:17:03,517
on a matchday with Mark.
414
00:17:03,551 --> 00:17:05,172
But that was tough for him
415
00:17:05,206 --> 00:17:06,551
and we felt the responsibility
416
00:17:06,586 --> 00:17:08,965
to make something good
out of it, all the time.
417
00:17:11,379 --> 00:17:13,034
It's a FIFA rule that,
418
00:17:13,068 --> 00:17:17,448
honestly, is so detrimental
419
00:17:17,482 --> 00:17:20,551
to the development
of a young footballer
420
00:17:20,586 --> 00:17:22,275
that it's just--
421
00:17:22,310 --> 00:17:25,517
It's actually criminal that
that rule is allowed to exist,
422
00:17:25,551 --> 00:17:28,724
because I don't think in any
other sport that rule exists.
423
00:17:28,758 --> 00:17:31,000
I can only imagine, you know,
424
00:17:31,034 --> 00:17:33,931
the stress from his family
and the parents
425
00:17:33,965 --> 00:17:36,000
to try and make this happen
because
426
00:17:36,034 --> 00:17:37,758
it's such an incredible
opportunity.
427
00:17:37,793 --> 00:17:40,275
But this is 2014,
and it just so happens
428
00:17:40,310 --> 00:17:43,206
that a year earlier,
the country of Croatia
429
00:17:43,241 --> 00:17:45,241
was accepted
into the European Union.
430
00:17:45,275 --> 00:17:46,655
Now, why does that matter?
431
00:17:46,689 --> 00:17:48,862
It matters because
Christian's grandfather
432
00:17:48,896 --> 00:17:51,344
on his father's side,
Matej Pulisic,
433
00:17:51,379 --> 00:17:55,413
was born and raised on the tiny
island of Olib in Croatia.
434
00:17:55,448 --> 00:17:57,689
And because he is a citizen
of that country,
435
00:17:57,724 --> 00:17:59,413
that also means that Christian
436
00:17:59,448 --> 00:18:02,241
is eligible
for Croatian citizenship.
437
00:18:02,275 --> 00:18:04,620
So now suddenly
everybody gets creative
438
00:18:04,655 --> 00:18:06,103
because there's a loophole.
439
00:18:07,896 --> 00:18:11,103
My whole life, I've been
Christian "Pool-ih-sick."
440
00:18:11,137 --> 00:18:13,068
That's, I guess,
the American pronunciation.
441
00:18:13,103 --> 00:18:15,482
It is a Croatian
last name, of course.
442
00:18:15,517 --> 00:18:17,655
So my grandfather
would never be mad
443
00:18:17,689 --> 00:18:20,034
if anyone calls me
Christian "Pool-ih-sitch."
444
00:18:21,655 --> 00:18:24,034
My mom and dad
passed away a few years ago,
445
00:18:24,068 --> 00:18:26,172
and I know the pride
that they both had.
446
00:18:26,206 --> 00:18:27,413
I mean, my dad just--
447
00:18:27,448 --> 00:18:30,172
He was just a huge, huge fan.
448
00:18:30,206 --> 00:18:31,655
He loved Christian so much.
449
00:18:31,689 --> 00:18:33,034
And when he used
to see his name
450
00:18:33,068 --> 00:18:34,689
on the back
of Christian's jersey
451
00:18:34,724 --> 00:18:36,034
when he was playing in Germany,
452
00:18:36,068 --> 00:18:37,241
there would be tears
in his eyes.
453
00:18:37,275 --> 00:18:38,896
And I just knew
what it meant to him.
454
00:18:38,931 --> 00:18:41,034
And I know what it means
to me when I see his name.
455
00:18:43,275 --> 00:18:45,172
Christian was in a situation
456
00:18:45,206 --> 00:18:46,724
where he needs
a European passport,
457
00:18:46,758 --> 00:18:49,931
and he can qualify for one
through his grandfather.
458
00:18:49,965 --> 00:18:52,758
The application
was in the system,
459
00:18:52,793 --> 00:18:55,586
but you need to get it
over the line, right?
460
00:18:55,620 --> 00:18:57,793
And that's where Dortmund
came into the picture.
461
00:18:57,827 --> 00:19:00,758
I know that Christian
and his family know that
462
00:19:00,793 --> 00:19:03,551
this one and a half,
two years playing with the youth
463
00:19:03,586 --> 00:19:05,551
were very important
for his development.
464
00:19:05,586 --> 00:19:08,275
And we knew that we have
a very special kids with us
465
00:19:08,310 --> 00:19:09,448
who cannot play.
466
00:19:09,482 --> 00:19:11,724
So everyone
we can call, we called.
467
00:19:13,310 --> 00:19:16,241
Dortmund knew my father
was born and raised in Croatia,
468
00:19:16,275 --> 00:19:20,000
and the club obviously
had some contacts in Croatia.
469
00:19:20,034 --> 00:19:23,758
So we were able
to utilize our name
470
00:19:23,793 --> 00:19:28,000
and his address in Croatia
to start the paperwork process.
471
00:19:28,034 --> 00:19:30,103
And it was gonna take
a long time.
472
00:19:30,137 --> 00:19:32,448
But look, at the end of the day,
473
00:19:32,482 --> 00:19:35,758
in this world,
anything can get done, right?
474
00:19:38,275 --> 00:19:40,344
You know, it's crazy
that you have to figure out
475
00:19:40,379 --> 00:19:42,413
these loopholes
to get EU citizenship,
476
00:19:42,448 --> 00:19:46,103
to go to an academy
if you have the talent to do so.
477
00:19:46,137 --> 00:19:47,620
From, from an American
standpoint,
478
00:19:47,655 --> 00:19:49,206
it's a massive disadvantage.
479
00:19:49,241 --> 00:19:51,103
If he didn't go
to Dortmund at 16
480
00:19:51,137 --> 00:19:53,068
and he went to an MLS academy
481
00:19:53,103 --> 00:19:54,689
or he was with an MLS team,
482
00:19:54,724 --> 00:19:57,000
I don't think we would be
seeing the Christian Pulisic
483
00:19:57,034 --> 00:19:59,137
that we see today on the pitch.
484
00:19:59,172 --> 00:20:00,758
Getting the Croatian passport,
485
00:20:00,793 --> 00:20:02,172
that was the game changer.
486
00:20:02,206 --> 00:20:03,827
I wouldn't have had a chance
487
00:20:03,862 --> 00:20:05,896
to have been a part of
the Dortmund first team
488
00:20:05,931 --> 00:20:08,172
until I was 18,
if I didn't have that passport.
489
00:20:08,206 --> 00:20:09,931
So there's no way
I would have been able
490
00:20:09,965 --> 00:20:11,482
to be playing in Europe
and I'd have been,
491
00:20:11,517 --> 00:20:13,482
you know, two,
three years behind.
492
00:20:13,517 --> 00:20:15,482
Who knows if I would
have even developed
493
00:20:15,517 --> 00:20:16,724
or had a chance by then.
494
00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,620
Coming on here for his debut
495
00:20:20,655 --> 00:20:23,206
is the young American,
Christian Pulisic.
496
00:20:24,620 --> 00:20:27,586
I wanted to believe
that there was something special
497
00:20:27,620 --> 00:20:30,655
on the other side of
that extremely difficult year.
498
00:20:30,689 --> 00:20:32,344
I told myself every day that
499
00:20:32,379 --> 00:20:34,965
this is--
this is all gonna be worth it.
500
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,758
You know, I think
that that first year,
501
00:20:37,793 --> 00:20:39,517
it doesn't change
how I look back on it.
502
00:20:39,551 --> 00:20:41,758
I still hated
waking up every day
503
00:20:41,793 --> 00:20:43,931
and having to go to that school
504
00:20:43,965 --> 00:20:46,862
and having to go do the lessons
and train and not playing.
505
00:20:46,896 --> 00:20:49,517
It was--
It was extremely hard.
506
00:20:49,551 --> 00:20:52,000
But I mean, looking back on it,
507
00:20:52,034 --> 00:20:54,034
I'm just so blessed
that I went through that
508
00:20:54,068 --> 00:20:55,413
and that I stuck it out.
509
00:20:56,517 --> 00:20:59,482
As a kid, I always learned
that if you want to be the best,
510
00:20:59,517 --> 00:21:01,000
you have to play
against the best.
511
00:21:02,137 --> 00:21:04,310
And I think that
this is where it's at,
512
00:21:04,344 --> 00:21:05,862
here in Europe right now.
513
00:21:05,896 --> 00:21:07,137
And this is one of the best
leagues in the world
514
00:21:07,172 --> 00:21:08,551
and one of the best teams.
515
00:21:08,586 --> 00:21:10,827
So it's just an honor
to play here.
516
00:21:10,862 --> 00:21:11,827
And it's always been my dream.
517
00:21:31,689 --> 00:21:34,724
Okay, so your son
goes to Europe.
518
00:21:34,758 --> 00:21:36,620
Professional debut at 17,
519
00:21:36,655 --> 00:21:40,827
scores a goal at 17
in front of 80,000 people.
520
00:21:40,862 --> 00:21:44,379
Kagawa, Hummels,
nice link up-- Pulisic!
521
00:21:44,413 --> 00:21:47,241
Oh, yes, the youngster
522
00:21:47,275 --> 00:21:49,827
and a startling day
for the young American.
523
00:21:50,724 --> 00:21:52,862
A star is born.
524
00:21:53,931 --> 00:21:55,413
Holy shit.
525
00:21:55,448 --> 00:21:57,862
Look at the crowd over there.
526
00:21:57,896 --> 00:22:00,655
Go make a debut
at 17 in front of that crowd,
527
00:22:00,689 --> 00:22:03,034
as demanding and
as passionate as that.
528
00:22:03,068 --> 00:22:04,793
I mean, can you imagine
the courage it takes?
529
00:22:04,827 --> 00:22:06,344
That's not just
about your ability,
530
00:22:06,379 --> 00:22:07,482
that's about your mentality.
531
00:22:07,517 --> 00:22:08,896
There's lots
of players with talent,
532
00:22:08,931 --> 00:22:10,482
but have you got
the mentality to play
533
00:22:10,517 --> 00:22:12,034
at the highest level
in front of the,
534
00:22:12,068 --> 00:22:13,482
you know,
the biggest atmospheres?
535
00:22:13,517 --> 00:22:15,275
And that for me,
is what football's about.
536
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,758
Yeah, a special moment.
537
00:22:30,793 --> 00:22:33,172
I'm extremely grateful
for the club
538
00:22:33,206 --> 00:22:35,517
and the way they put me
through those difficult things,
539
00:22:35,551 --> 00:22:39,000
you know, even when I didn't
see it at the time,
540
00:22:39,034 --> 00:22:42,655
because that's what shaped me
into the person I am today,
541
00:22:42,689 --> 00:22:43,827
into the player I am today.
542
00:22:43,862 --> 00:22:45,172
There's Pulisic.
543
00:22:45,206 --> 00:22:47,827
He sent a cross--
A sensational goal!
544
00:22:47,862 --> 00:22:50,034
Ooh!
545
00:22:50,068 --> 00:22:51,655
Christian Pulisic!
546
00:22:51,689 --> 00:22:54,275
Almost can't believe it himsel.
547
00:22:54,310 --> 00:22:56,586
I mean, I obviously just
wouldn't be where I'm at
548
00:22:56,620 --> 00:22:58,931
if I didn't have that start
in those difficult times.
549
00:22:58,965 --> 00:23:00,724
Pulisic, Pulisic...!
550
00:23:02,965 --> 00:23:04,620
Goal!
551
00:23:06,344 --> 00:23:07,827
A football career is difficult,
552
00:23:07,862 --> 00:23:11,034
and it's massively influenced
by injuries and stuff like that.
553
00:23:13,896 --> 00:23:16,758
A great club
educated a great boy,
554
00:23:16,793 --> 00:23:19,551
so I knew he would make it.
555
00:23:20,655 --> 00:23:22,172
A young academy player
556
00:23:22,206 --> 00:23:24,655
making it as
a men's professional,
557
00:23:24,689 --> 00:23:26,241
the most difficult jump
in football.
558
00:23:27,931 --> 00:23:30,586
But he ended up with
unbelievable experiences
559
00:23:30,620 --> 00:23:32,931
of playing Champions League
football at a young age,
560
00:23:32,965 --> 00:23:36,068
playing in front of big
audiences every home game.
561
00:23:36,103 --> 00:23:38,172
Everything worked out so well.
562
00:23:39,586 --> 00:23:42,793
But there came a point
where both parties knew
563
00:23:42,827 --> 00:23:45,620
that he was probably ready
for the next step.
564
00:23:55,172 --> 00:23:57,137
I'm sad, man.
To be honest with you.
565
00:23:57,172 --> 00:23:59,241
I respect him a lot
for what he did, like--
566
00:23:59,275 --> 00:24:00,862
A tough day for me.
567
00:24:00,896 --> 00:24:03,103
The maturity
to be able to, you know,
568
00:24:03,137 --> 00:24:06,034
pursue something
as serious as that, and--
569
00:24:06,068 --> 00:24:08,379
Five years here, man,
it's incredible.
570
00:24:08,413 --> 00:24:11,172
Live out on your own, largely.
571
00:24:12,241 --> 00:24:13,448
It's pretty crazy.
572
00:24:21,586 --> 00:24:24,103
I think to say goodbye
in a proper way...
573
00:24:25,172 --> 00:24:27,896
is an important thing in life.
574
00:24:30,206 --> 00:24:32,758
It was my first club, and...
575
00:24:32,793 --> 00:24:34,689
the way they yell my name
576
00:24:34,724 --> 00:24:36,206
and the way they supported me,
577
00:24:37,517 --> 00:24:39,931
I'll obviously always have
a lot of love for them.
578
00:24:41,206 --> 00:24:43,034
They told me that
they'd be giving me
579
00:24:43,068 --> 00:24:44,896
a little bit
of a goodbye and, um--
580
00:24:44,931 --> 00:24:46,482
They said, "You know,
if you want,
581
00:24:46,517 --> 00:24:48,758
you can say a quick word
to the fans."
582
00:24:58,068 --> 00:24:59,793
And I said, "Absolutely."
583
00:24:59,827 --> 00:25:01,758
I mean, it's the least
I could do.
584
00:25:01,793 --> 00:25:03,275
Christian...
585
00:25:03,310 --> 00:25:04,689
Pulisic!
586
00:25:04,724 --> 00:25:06,103
Christian...
587
00:25:06,137 --> 00:25:07,517
Pulisic!
588
00:25:07,551 --> 00:25:08,827
Christian...
589
00:25:08,862 --> 00:25:10,655
Pulisic!
590
00:25:10,689 --> 00:25:12,620
Smart boy.
591
00:25:12,655 --> 00:25:14,172
Obviously, a confident boy.
592
00:25:14,206 --> 00:25:15,931
And it helps,
593
00:25:15,965 --> 00:25:18,034
if you want to speak in front
of the Yellow Wall.
594
00:25:18,068 --> 00:25:20,034
Confidence
is a good thing to have
595
00:25:20,068 --> 00:25:22,586
because it's quite intimidating
when you stand there
596
00:25:22,620 --> 00:25:23,931
and you look up to it.
597
00:25:23,965 --> 00:25:25,206
Can you imagine that?
598
00:25:25,241 --> 00:25:26,724
Your send off in front
of the Yellow Wall,
599
00:25:26,758 --> 00:25:29,931
one of the most iconic pieces
of terrace in European football.
600
00:25:29,965 --> 00:25:31,448
You're all alone,
601
00:25:31,482 --> 00:25:32,862
speaking in a foreign language,
602
00:25:32,896 --> 00:25:34,965
and see how emotional he was.
603
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,482
You could see the feeling
between player and fans.
604
00:25:37,517 --> 00:25:39,965
I mean, it was a touching
moment for everybody.
605
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:41,172
I mean,
you got to think about it.
606
00:25:41,206 --> 00:25:44,586
This is a young kid in front
of 83,000 people
607
00:25:44,620 --> 00:25:47,931
saying goodbye to a club
that this is the only thing
608
00:25:47,965 --> 00:25:50,344
he's known
for a number of years.
609
00:25:50,379 --> 00:25:52,655
I was actually pretty
nervous for that moment,
610
00:25:52,689 --> 00:25:53,965
for some reason, you know,
611
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:56,068
I can play in front
of 80, whatever, thousand,
612
00:25:56,103 --> 00:25:57,896
but for some reason, when
you get a mic in your hand
613
00:25:57,931 --> 00:26:00,275
and you have to speak,
it's a little bit different.
614
00:26:01,724 --> 00:26:03,965
But, yeah,
it was what I owed them.
615
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:05,241
Oh...
616
00:26:08,448 --> 00:26:12,379
But I did not expect
the wave of emotions to hit.
617
00:26:14,482 --> 00:26:18,344
I didn't expect how
I would feel in that moment.
618
00:26:23,413 --> 00:26:25,103
You know,
the respect from the fans,
619
00:26:25,137 --> 00:26:27,517
I think, as a player
is just so important.
620
00:26:32,068 --> 00:26:35,034
And then to be able
to address as a parent,
621
00:26:35,068 --> 00:26:38,206
to see your kid
address 80,000 people...
622
00:26:44,482 --> 00:26:45,620
Sorry.
623
00:26:56,137 --> 00:27:00,862
Yeah, he's speaking German,
and fluently, too,
624
00:27:00,896 --> 00:27:03,793
and thanking the crowd
625
00:27:03,827 --> 00:27:06,034
for what they've given him
to start his career.
626
00:27:06,068 --> 00:27:08,000
It's just--
627
00:27:22,620 --> 00:27:24,586
I couldn't have been more proud.
628
00:27:24,620 --> 00:27:25,896
I don't know--
629
00:27:29,275 --> 00:27:32,310
Yeah, it's one of the best
moments so far, I think. Yeah.
630
00:27:34,172 --> 00:27:35,172
Yeah.
631
00:27:36,172 --> 00:27:37,413
Sorry.
632
00:27:40,103 --> 00:27:42,965
♪ When you walk
633
00:27:44,344 --> 00:27:46,517
♪ Through a storm
634
00:27:47,758 --> 00:27:52,517
♪ Hold your hand up high
635
00:27:54,137 --> 00:27:58,655
♪ And don't be afraid
636
00:28:00,379 --> 00:28:02,137
♪ Of the dark
637
00:28:06,793 --> 00:28:11,068
♪ Walk on through the wind
638
00:28:13,551 --> 00:28:18,137
♪ Walk on through the rain
639
00:28:19,448 --> 00:28:24,068
♪ For your dreams be tossed
640
00:28:26,068 --> 00:28:30,000
♪ And blown
641
00:28:32,310 --> 00:28:36,931
♪ Walk on, walk on
642
00:28:38,896 --> 00:28:44,724
♪ With hope in your heart
643
00:28:44,758 --> 00:28:48,068
♪ And you'll never
644
00:28:48,103 --> 00:28:50,896
♪ Walk alone
645
00:28:50,931 --> 00:28:55,862
♪ Alone
646
00:28:57,137 --> 00:29:02,413
♪ You'll never
647
00:29:02,448 --> 00:29:04,448
♪ Walk alone