Steffen credits multi-sport experience for development | OneFootball

Zack Steffen believes playing multiple sports is responsible for the United States’ history of producing fine Premier League goalkeepers.

The 25-year-old, who signed for Manchester City in December 2018, is aiming to continue that tradition in his first full season at the Club, having returned from a season-long loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany.

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A 17-cap US international, Steffen played a variety of different sports as a child and credits that to helping him develop into a goalkeeper of Premier League and international class.

“Maybe it’s playing the other sports when we grow up to keep us athletically fit,” he said when asked about the long list of US shot stoppers who have plied their trade in England.

“I would say the goalkeeping training that we have in the US is pretty strong, but mostly I would say that the other sports that I played when growing up helped me with goalkeeping and keeping me athletically fit.”

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Steffen made 17 Bundesliga appearances for Dusseldorf last season and returns to City to provide competition for first choice ‘keeper Ederson.

Having received a warm welcome from the Brazilian, as well as Scott Carson and coaches Xabi Mancisidor and Richard Wright, the Pennsylvania native is keen to learn all he can from his colleagues as he bids to take his game to the next level.

And, having already established a healthy competition with Ederson and Carson, he believes his new environment will bring out the best in him.

“It’s really great,” he added.

“The competition in training is really good. We’re very supportive. We push each other and that’s what you need to get better.

“My mindset coming in is to work hard every day, get better every day, learn from these players, these coaches and grow my game.

"We push each other every day.”