WERDER.DE: Back to Werder-related matters. You’ve mentioned multiple times that there are experienced players within the team who help you out, such as Claudio Pizarro. What has helped you the most?
Josh Sargent: “The most important thing has been the lads who have helped me settle in and make me feel like a part of the team. This is my first club as a professional footballer, and I wasn’t sure what to expect and how things work. A lot of football-related things were clear to me, but I’ve learned a lot mentally, psychologically and as a person in particular.”
WERDER.DE: You’re a big talent, and a lot of people have high expectations of you, especially in the USA. With that comes a lot of pressure, presumably. Do you feel this pressure?
Josh Sargent: “No, I wouldn’t say that I feel the pressure. People can have their opinions, whether they see me as the next big talent or just an average player. I don’t really enjoy hearing other people’s views. I’m focussing purely on my own self-expectations, and how good I should be performing.”
WERDER.DE: Are your self-expectations very high? Would you say that you’re a particularly self-critical person?
Josh Sargent: “I’m very critical, as well as very competition- and performance-orientated, so I don’t enjoy it when I can’t do something. If I notice that I’ve done something wrong or I can’t do something, I try to make amends as soon as possible.”