Julian Green: “Difficult to say why I am not called up” to the USMNT – MLS an option “at some point”

By


Exclusive Interview 

While the US men’s national team took on Mexico and Jamaica, Julian Green is back in Germany, training for Bundesliga side SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The 26-year-old has scored four goals in 15 games for the US men’s national team and, after being promoted with Fürth to the Bundesliga, plays in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues. In an exclusive interview with Transfermarkt, Green speaks about his national team ambitions, Fürth’s difficult start to the season, and a possible future in Major League Soccer.

“We are in contact every once in a while,” Green said when asked about USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter. But instead of playing two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Mexico (2-0) and Jamaica (X-X), Green is back home in Fürth training with his club team.

“Ahead of the season, we had the Gold Cup, but I couldn’t play there because it was right in the middle of the season preparation,” Green said. “It is difficult to say why I am not called up; I think I can help the team and I’m available. At the end of the day, the coach makes the decision, and I can only give my best, improve my game and respect the decision of the manager to leave me out.”

“It is too bad,” but Green hoped that he would be able to stay up late at night to follow the game. Overall, the 26-year-old stresses the importance of the national team to qualify for the World Cup to keep up the sport’s momentum in the United States, especially as there is an increasing number of young players playing at top European teams.

USMNT – World Cup qualifying roster for November games

Goalkeeper: Zack Steffen – Manchester City – Market value: $6.6m

&copy imago images

Goalkeeper: Matt Turner – New England Revolution – Market value: $3.3m

&copy Matthew Stith/MLS

Goalkeeper: Sean Johnson – New York City FC – Market value: $1.65m

&copy imago images

Defender: Chris Richards – Hoffenheim – Market value: $8.25m

&copy imago images

Defender: Antonee Robinson – Fulham FC – Market value: $7.7m

&copy imago images

Defender: Mark McKenzie – KRC Genk – Market value: $5.5m

&copy imago images

Defender: Miles Robinson – Atlanta United FC – Market value: $5.5m

&copy Atlanta United Photos

Defender: DeAndre Yedlin – Galatasaray – Market value: $4.51m

&copy imago images

Defender: Joe Scally – Gladbach – Market value: $4.4m

&copy imago images

Defender: Reggie Cannon – Boavista – Market value: $4.4m

&copy imago images

Defender: Walker Zimmerman – Nashville – Market value: $3.85m

&copy imago images

Defender: Sam Vines – Royal Antwerp – Market value: $3.3m

&copy imago images

Midfielder: Weston McKennie – Juventus FC – Market value: $27.5m

&copy imago images

Midfielder: Tyler Adams – RB Leipzig – Market value: $22m

&copy TM/imago images

Midfielder: Brenden Aaronson – Red Bull Salzburg – Market value: $11m

&copy imago images

Midfielder – Gianluca Busio – Venezia – Market value: $7.7m

&copy imago images

Midfielder: Cristian Roldán – Seattle Sounders FC – Market value: $6.05m

&copy imago images

Midfielder: Jesús Ferreira – FC Dallas – Market value: $5.5m

&copy imago images

Midfielder: Kellyn Acosta – Colorado Rapids – Market value: $3.3m

&copy Colorado Rapids

Midfielder: Paul Arriola – D.C. United – Market value: $3.3m

&copy imago images

Midfielder: Sebastian Lletget – Los Angeles Galaxy – Market value: $2.75m

&copy imago images

Attacker: Christian Pulisic – Chelsea – Market value: $55m

&copy imago images

Attacker: Yunus Musah – Valencia – Market value: $16.5m

&copy imago images

Attacker: Timothy Weah – LOSC Lille – Market value: $13.2m

&copy imago images

Attacker: Ricardo Pepi – FC Dallas – Market value: $8.8m

&copy imago images

Green: Increasing number of US players a “very good” development

“Very good,” Green said when asked how he sees the increasing number of young players coming over from Major League Soccer to Europe. “They are not just playing at any teams but at top clubs. That’s a fantastic development; it must be continued, which in turn makes it important for the national team to reach the World Cup.”

“Pulisic at Chelsea, McKennie at Juventus or Dest at Barcelona, those are top teams in Europe, and the players have quality, you notice that in practice, which is fun,” Green said. There is no doubt that Green wants to return to the US national team fold and be a part of the development.

But not nominated by Berhalter, the focus, for now, is on Fürth and the club’s difficult battle against relegation. Die Kleeblätter have collected just one point from the first 11 games this season. Astonishing considering the type of football the club has played this season.

Pulisic, Reyna, Richards & Co.: The 25 Most Valuable USMNT Players

25 Jordan Siebatcheu | €5 million | Young Boys

&copy imago images

24 Miles Robinson | €5 million | Atlanta United

&copy imago images

23 Mark McKenzie | €5 million | KRC Genk

&copy imago images

22 Jesus Ferreira | €5 million | FC Dallas

&copy imago images

21 Bryan Reynolds | €5 million | Roma

&copy imago images

20 Cade Cowell | €5 million | San Jose Earthquakes

&copy imago images

19 Cristian Roldán | €5.5 million | Seattle Sounders

&copy imago images

18 Zack Steffen | €6 million | Manchester City

&copy imago images

17 Konrad de la Fuente | €6 million | Olympique Marseille

&copy imago images

16 Cole Bassett | €6 million | Colorado Rapids

&copy imago images

15 Antonee Robinson | €7 million | Fulham

&copy imago images

14 Gianluca Busio | €7 million | Venezia FC

&copy imago images

13 Chris Richards | €7.5 milion | Hoffenheim (on loan from Bayern Munich)

&copy imago images

12 Josh Sargent | €8 million | Norwich City

&copy imago images

11 Ricardo Pepi | €8 million | FC Dallas

&copy imago images

10 Daryl Dike | €10 million | Orlando City

&copy imago images

9 Brenden Aaronson | €10 million | Red Bull Salzburg

&copy imago images

8 Timothy Weah | €12 million | LOSC Lille

&copy imago images

7 John Anthony Brooks | €14 million | Wolfsburg

&copy imago images

6 Yunus Musah | €15 million | Valencia

&copy imago images

5 Tyler Adams | €20 million | RB Leipzig

&copy imago images

4 Weston McKennie | €25 million | Juventus

&copy imago images

3 Sergiño Dest | €30 million | Barcelona

&copy imago images

2 Giovanni Reyna | €42 million | Borussia Dortmund

&copy imago images

1 Christian Pulisic | €50 million | Chelsea

&copy imago images

Green: “We should have more points” – “Had other expectations” 

Transfermarkt was on location on matchday 6 when Fürth lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich. Under head coach Stefan Leitl, Die Kleeblätter played an attractive style of attacking football with a good press and a modern 4-3-1-2 formation. It was the same football that earned the Franconians promotion in the first place, but in the end, despite playing good football, the difference in quality was too much to overcome for Fürth.


Fürth 18th
Bundesliga standings at a glance
Click here
“We could, perhaps should, have more points; that one point makes it look like we are without a chance, and that just isn’t the case,” Green said. “I think we all realized it would be difficult; nonetheless, I personally and everyone at the club had other expectations.”

Julian Green in action for Greuther Fürth

Julian Green in action for Greuther Fürth

Green admits that Fürth’s promotion was almost a miracle but that only details are missing for his club to collect more points. “It is in the details,” Green said. “Small mistakes are not punished in the 2.Bundesliga; you can make mistakes and still win fix or six games in a row. In the Bundesliga, every little mistake is being punished; you have to score more often and be more clinical overall.”

Green: “I want to stay” in the Bundesliga – MLS an option “at some point”

When it comes to his position in midfield, Green points out that the most significant difference between playing in the 2.Bundesliga and Bundesliga is the tempo, the high press, and the amount of mistakes midfielders can make. “Still, I think we can play our football in the Bundesliga and play good football and be successful,” Green said. “We can’t be happy with one point after 11 games. Most have us written off, but I see it differently, once we win two or three games, everything will look different, and that is how we will approach the next few games.”

It is hard to say where the path is going to lead, I always want the best for myself, and the Bundesliga is the best. You never know what the future brings, but I am very, very comfortable in Fürth.

On a personal level, playing in the Bundesliga is essential for Green. “I am now playing in the Bundesliga, and I want to stay there, ideally with Fürth,” Green said. “But it is hard to say where the path is going to lead, I always want the best for myself, and the Bundesliga is the best. You never know what the future brings, but I am very, very comfortable in Fürth.”

Without being asked, Green also brings up MLS as an option. “Perhaps not now, but at some point,” Green said. Born in Tampa, his father still lives in Florida, a destination that would appeal to the 26-year-old. “Florida would be the ideal solution, that’s where I am from, and I like it warm and the sun, but California would be good too,” Green said laughing.

“I am open to everything; at the end of the day, the full package has to be perfect,” Green said. The midfielder has undoubtedly noticed that playmakers like Nashville SC‘s German midfielder Hany Mukhtar have had a significant impact on the league. “I still know Hany from the good old days, and I following his career there, but it always depends on what clubs want and whether I fit that profile.”

After the November Update – The 25 most valuable MLS players

Santiago Sosa | Atlanta United | Market value: $6.6m

&copy Concacaf

Cole Bassett | Colorado Rapids | Market value: $6.6m

&copy imago images

Efraín Álvarez | Los Angeles Galaxy | Market value: $6.6m

&copy imago images

Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | Market value: $7.15m

&copy imago images

Ryan Gauld | Vancouver Whitecaps | Market value: $7.15m

&copy imago images

José Cifuentes | Los Angeles FC | Market value: $7.15m

&copy imago images

Carles Gil | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m

&copy Matthew Stith/MLS

Adam Buksa | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m

&copy imago images

Yeferson Soteldo | Toronto FC | Market value: $7.7m

&copy imago images

Valentín Castellanos | New York City FC | Market value: $7.7m

&copy imago images

Brenner | FC Cincinnati | Market value: $7.7m

&copy imago images

Talles Magno | New York City FC | Market value: $7.7m

&copy imago images

Dániel Sallói | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.25m

&copy imago images

Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders | Market value; $8.8m

&copy imago images

Alan Pulido | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.8m

&copy Sporting Kansas City

Alejandro Pozuelo | Toronto FC | Market value: $8.8m

&copy imago images

Lucas Zelarayán | Columbus Crew | Market value: $8.8m

&copy imago images

Marcelino Moreno | Atlanta United | Market value: $8.8m

&copy imago images

Ricardo Pepi | FC Dallas | Market value: $ 8.8m

&copy imago images

Tajon Buchanan | New England Revolution | Market value: $9.35m

&copy imago images

Luiz Araujo | Atlanta United | Market value: $11m

&copy imago images

Emmanuel Reynoso | Minnesota United | Market value: $11m

&copy imago images

Ezequiel Barco | Atlanta United | Market value: $11m

&copy imago images

Daryl Dike | Orlando City | Market value: $11m

&copy imago images

Josef Martínez | Atlanta United | Market value: $13.75m

&copy imago images



Homepage

 



Source link

Share This Article