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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.
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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.
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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
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“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
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.”
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