England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has dedicated significant time and effort to improving his performance following a challenging World Cup campaign. The 32-year-old spoke candidly about his ongoing self-reflection and the work he has undertaken to enhance both his physical and mental abilities.

Pickford recently spent three hours in a video call with his sports psychologist, describing the session as intensive preparation aimed at reaching a higher level in his game. This approach reflects his commitment to addressing issues that arose during the World Cup, most notably the goal conceded to Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez in the semifinal, which proved decisive in England’s 2-1 defeat.

Discussing the incident, Pickford acknowledged the difficulty of the save, noting that Fernandez had a clear shot amid a congested penalty area. “I tried to scan for the ball. There were a lot of bodies in front. He’s got a free touch and shot. It just went away from me,” he said. “In that moment, you know yourself if you could have done better or not. I went after the ball and I didn’t get it.”

Although the goal sparked widespread debate over Pickford’s performance, he maintained that those without goalkeeping expertise may not fully appreciate the challenges faced in those split seconds. Despite occasional criticism, he emphasized his consistent reliability for England during his eight years as the national team’s first-choice goalkeeper.

However, Pickford now shares goalkeeping duties with James Trafford as the competition for the No. 1 spot intensifies. England manager Thomas Tuchel has reaffirmed Pickford’s status as first choice, but the goalkeeper admits the rivalry motivates him to keep improving.

“I always want to be No.1. I’ll always keep working on myself, keep developing,” Pickford said. “I’m always striving for more, whether it’s on the pitch, in the gym or my mindwork.”

On the mental side, Pickford revealed he has been working closely with a sports psychologist for over a year, a relationship that began as preparation for the World Cup and has continued into the next phase of his development. He credited the psychological training with helping him manage criticism and maintain focus.

“We just go through everything — how I’m feeling, where we can improve, my breath work and stuff. There’s loads. Day-to-day life as well,” Pickford explained. “I’m open to it because I want to be the best version of me. I’ve worked with this coach for over a year now. The first chapter was to gear up for the World Cup and be the best version of me. Pushing through now, it’s the next chapter. I find it really useful.”

Pickford’s approach highlights the increasing emphasis on mental conditioning among elite footballers as they seek to sustain performance at the highest level.