Julian Green seeks role in Guardiola’s Bayern after World Cup introduction

The 19-year-old forward announced his arrival with a goal for the US at the World Cup and now aims to establish a club presence this season with Bayern Munich.

Julian Green scored his first international goal against Belgium for the US at the 2014 World Cup. Ali Haider / EPA / July 1, 2014

Bolstered by a dramatic World Cup goal for the United States, 19-year-old striker Julian Green wants to prove he belongs with German champions Bayern Munich.

The German-American prodigy rewarded US coach Jurgen Klinsmann for giving him a World Cup spot by scoring a spectacular volley with his first touch of the ball in Brazil in a 2-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.

“The goal was very special to me,” Green said. “It gave me a lot of confidence.”

Now Green wants to return Pep Guardiola’s confidence.

“He stays with us,” Guardiola said in a recent conference call to drum up interest in the tour that is being billed as the Audi Football Summit. “I think he’s going to stay (the season) but we have to see how is the market, if one player is back or what players come in.

“We have time ... my first idea is that he’s going to stay for the rest of the season.”

“I just want to show the coach I can help him and if I get my chance I will try my best,” Green said Monday after his first post-World Cup workout.

“The relationship is very good. I feel the trust with him (Guardiola). It’s very important for a young player. I want to repay the trust from him.

“The most important thing right now is Bayern. I’m not thinking about a loan or something else. I’m playing for Bayern Munich and I want to stay.”

Green, who said a slight knee injury has fully healed, will be a focus as Bayern play two US warm-up matches for the upcoming Bundesliga campaign, the first Thursday in suburban New York against Chivas Guadalajara of Mexico and the other next week against the Major League Soccer All-Stars, including many of his US World Cup teammates.

“It’s a special game. I’m looking forward to seeing all my teammates from the national team,” Green said.

“Coming with Bayern, it’s very exciting. I’m looking forward to playing and showing how good Bayern Munich is.”

Green said signings such as England’s Frank Lampard and Spain’s David Villa for 2015 MLS expansion club New York City FC will help the US league improve quickly.

“It’s good for MLS to get players who played in Europe,” he said. “They have more experience and can make the MLS much better.”

Green learned quite a bit in Brazil, even in a reserve role for the Americans, who were beaten just 1-0 in the group stages by eventual champions Germany, who featured plenty of Bayern talent.

“I learned very much,” Green said. “I saw the best players in the world. I look at (Cristiano) Ronaldo and Xavi and the way they made it (to the top). At 19, it’s very important to have this experience.

“But right now, everything starts new and I’ll do my best.”

Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE