EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Bayern Munich forward Julian Green feels prepared for first-team minutes during the regular season, should he be called upon during the defending Bundsliga champion's campaign.
The 21-year-old U.S. international started all three of the club's preseason games stateside and said he'll continue to work toward his goal of seeing action for Bayern's senior side after several years with Bayern Munich II.
"I’m always ready," Green said when asked if he's mentally and physically prepared if first-team action comes his way. "Of course, I have to work hard. I can’t say it enough. Physically I’m feeling good and I’m always ready. Now we go back to Munich and we’ll see."
The forward scored a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Inter in Bayern's second preseason game and had a chance saved in the first half of Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Real Madrid. That has drawn the attention of manager Carlo Ancelotti, though the Italian may still elect to send Green elsewhere with the bevy of options he has and limited spots available in the squad.
"As I've said, he’s [having] a good preseason, he’s scored good goals, he had the opportunity tonight, he has played well with the team in the first half, he had one opportunity," Ancelotti said in a news conference. "The second half was more difficult because we were a little bit tired. We didn’t play with intensity as we wanted."
When the team returns to Munich, forwards Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller are among the players who will rejoin Bayern's team. While it will be difficult to get time in Bayern's lineup, Green said that overall his preseason experience was a positive one that could pay off in the long run.
"It was good. First of all, I was very happy to be here with the first team," Green said. "I think the games were OK. Now I have to still keep improving and keep moving on."
Bayern faces Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercup on Aug. 14 before beginning Bundesliga play with a Aug. 26 home match against Werder Bremen.
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