It's not easy to live up to expectations when signing for a new British transfer record. Still, one can probably guess that Alexander Isak would have hoped for more from his first season at Liverpool, after being bought from Newcastle for a breathtaking sum of almost 1.7 billion kronor.
Isak missed large parts of the season due to a broken leg and was also absent when Sweden secured a place in this summer's World Cup in March.
But he's not thinking about that now.
He glides easily to the press corps at the Swedish World Cup base on the outskirts of Dallas and says:
Club team and national team are two very separate things. When I joined the national team, I had absolutely no thoughts about anything other than Sweden and the World Cup.
There is less than a day left until the final group game against Japan at Dallas Stadium, kicking off at 1 a.m. Friday, local time in Sweden. Sweden needs a point to be certain of advancing to the round of 16.
Involved in four goals
If things go well, against a Japan team that has impressed so far, the 26-year-old striker will need to continue to deliver. In the two matches played so far, Isak has been one of Sweden's most prominent players, with one goal and three assists.
"It's clear that it's nice to have a good World Cup, and you want to do it even better all the time. I feel like I'm in a good place now. And hopefully I can continue to do well," says Isak.
With another attacking star in the Swedish team, Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres, Isak is given a slightly different role than he is used to, more out on the left wing. At the same time, he is given relatively free rein by head coach Graham Potter.
It's felt good. It's worked well in the matches. It's clear that you're a bit more of a playmaker, playing others forward instead of being the one making the deep runs yourself. But I'm enjoying it there.
Sylvas duo
Together with Gyökeres, he forms one of the World Cup's sharpest attacking pairs on paper.
"We are two talented players who want the best for the team. We get along really well, just like the whole team," says Isak.
Given the chaotic season in Liverpool, many are wondering if Isak is now back at the same soaring level as during his time in Newcastle.
He doesn't even know that himself.
Now I feel good, very good. But it's hard to put your finger on what your maximum is, you never know. But I have nothing to complain about right now when it comes to my physical status.
