Football
10y

Julian Green to fight for Bayern spot

Julian Green believes that competing with the best players at the World Cup has given him the extra push he needs to fight his way into the Bayern Munich squad.

Green, 19, scored with his first touch at the World Cup, when he was brought as an extra time substitute in United States' last-16 tie against Belgium. Green's goal proved only a consolation, as the Europeans held on to beat Jurgen Klinsmann's team 2-1.

The Bayern youngster believes that despite only playing 15 minutes, the World Cup opportunity can only aid his development.

"The experience has definitely helped me progress. I was able to watch the best players in the world up close, Cristiano Ronaldo for example," he told Bayern's official website. "His presence on the field, his ambition, his posture. Experiencing that up close was great."

Looking back at the World Cup, he also praised the special atmosphere in Brazil and the "soccer fever" in the United States: "I never expected so many fans to cheer and keep their fingers crossed for us. More viewers watched our game against Germany than the NBA finals."

The U.S. squad has been invited to meet President Barack Obama at the White House, and Green hopes to make the trip back home.

"It's a great honour and I definitely want to be there. But I still don't know when that's going to happen," Green said.

And he will be back in the United States later in July, when Bayern tour the country for the first time in a decade.

"The trip is something special for me. I love the country, I was born there and I'm always glad to be there. At our game against the MLS All Stars I'll also meet some of my teammates from the national team. I'm very much looking forward to the tour," Green added.

In the 2013-14 season, Green made only one brief appearance for Bayern's first team, when he was brought on for the final minutes of the Champions League away match at CSKA Moscow.

In the upcoming season, Green wants to fight to get closer to the first team.

"After my vacation everything starts again from zero, but I'll carry a lot of confidence and experience with me from Brazil to Munich, so I'm looking forward to the new season. I want to be able to stand my ground at FC Bayern," he said.

^ Back to Top ^