It’s been over two years since Julian Green introduced himself on the largest of international stages with that fantastic goal against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16. Now, it finally looks as though he’s ready to progress at the club level with Bayern Munich.
Green spent his first year after the 2014 World Cup on loan at Hamburger SV. To say it was a disastrous year for the American from Tampa, Florida, would be an understatement. He was demoted to the reserve squad and left the HSV coaching staff unimpressed with his attitude and work rate.
Last season, Green went about his work quietly with the Bayern Munich reserves. He scored 10 goals in 24 matches in the Regionalliga, the fourth tier of the German football league system, but the 21-year-old was limited to one appearance with the Munich first team.
Now, with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Green has returned to training with the Bayern first team throughout preseason. Green even scored a goal for Munich against SV Lippstadt and started for the Bavarian giants against Manchester City.
The optimism surrounding Green also has a lot to do with the new manager claiming “he will be important for us in the season.”
Green’s decision to stick with Bayern last season may yet be vindicated.
“I can’t say what will happen in three or five months, but right now, I’m a player for Bayern,” said Green while in Chicago. “My goal always was and always will be to play for Bayern’s first team.”
Green’s lack of game time has resulted in only one USA appearance since 2014 while his strike against Belgium remains his only goal for the States.
Green is hoping that a successful stint with Bayern will see him immediately recalled to the USA squad on their road to qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I want to be back with the national team as soon as possible, but I have to play. That’s it. I will be back. I’m really confident about that. I’m really confident about myself,” Green said.
The United States returns to World Cup qualifying with two matches in September. If Green can continue to log minutes throughout Bayern’s participation in the International Champions Cup, an international recall by Jurgen Klinsmann is surely on the cards.
(H/T: ESPN FC)
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