Barcelona and England forward Anthony Gordon has told ESPN he is still a long way from where he wants to be as he prepares for Sunday's Clásico against Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou (watch live in the U.S. on ABC and ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET).
Gordon, 25, has made an encouraging start to life in Spain, scoring two goals and setting up five more in 11 appearances, but he hopes to get even better.
"If I could put a number [on my start], I would say seven and a half [out of 10]," he said in an interview with ESPN before Madrid's visit this weekend.
"Like I've said many times, it's been good, but I can still do so much more. In the Paris [Saint-Germain] game, for example, I think I could have done more.
"It is these type of games where I need to be consistently on the highest level if I want to become the player that I really want to become.
"So I still have so much to do. It's been an okay start, a good start, but there is still a long, long way to go to get where I want to get to."
During the recent international break, Gordon said he did not feel he was always respected as a player while playing in the Premier League with Everton and Newcastle United.
That is starting to change at Barcelona, where he has the chance to be involved in the biggest games in football, such as Tuesday's 4-2 defeat to European champions PSG in the Champions League and Sunday's Clásico.
"Yes, for sure," he added when asked if he felt more appreciated now.
"Because everybody watches Barcelona, so that alone allows more people to see my game. And also Barcelona play in the biggest matches, where I want to play.
"I want my skills and attributes to be highlighted on the world's biggest stage and that can only happen by playing in the biggest games and Barcelona are always in the big games."
Sunday will be Gordon's first taste of the Clásico as Barça look to secure a win which would prolong their winning start in LaLiga to a league-record 10 games, while also allowing them to open up a nine-point lead over Madrid.
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It's a fixture he always imagined taking part in.
"I dreamed [of playing in this game]," he said. "I think every kid dreams because when you see something so elite, you imagine yourself in this position, the same as those players playing on the pitch.
"So I always dreamed of it. I was never sure I would get it. You never are really. But yeah, it was a very big dream of mine."
It is the next step in what has been an impressive year for Gordon, who followed up signing for Barça by taking part in his first World Cup with the Three Lions.
Being part of England's run to the semifinal is an experience which has helped him improve but also left him wanting more.
"It's definitely changed me as a person because it's a little bit of a scar from losing," he said of his involvement at the finals in North America.
"I think when things like that that happen in your life that are quite drastic, it always changes you as a person in a good way or a bad way.
"I think good because I feel more experienced. I feel a lot calmer. That was the biggest stage I've ever played on because I think that's the biggest stage in football and I felt comfortable there.
"I felt ready. So I think from that I've gained a lot of confidence and definitely feel more comfortable at the highest level."