Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 10y

Julian Green says Hamburg loan will help his chances at Bayern Munich

Julian Green believes his spell with Hamburg can help him become a regular back at his parent club, Bayern Munich.

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Green, 19, is at Hamburg on loan for the season having made only one appearance for Bayern so far, a brief substitute appearance against CSKA Moscow in a Champions League group game last season.

With little chance of seeing any first-team action at the Allianz Arena, the United States international joined Hamburg on the final day of the summer transfer window.

"It was a reorientation in many ways. But I think that's normal, no matter of where you are headed from Bayern," he told Munchener Merkur of the loan move. "But it was a conscious decision of mine. It's about me and my career.

"I still have a good feeling [about Bayern]. But when I received the call from Hamburg I knew straightaway: That fits!"

The youngster added that he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Toni Kroos, David Alaba and Philipp Lahm, who all had their breakthrough in Bundesliga during loan stints.

"The loan is perfect for them. Go and play somewhere else first -- and then make it at Bayern," he said. "I still want to become a starter at Bayern. That has not changed."

The forward made his debut in a 2-0 loss at Hannover last weekend, a defeat which left Die Rothosen rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga. But Green was substituted at half-time after struggling to make an impression on the game.

The player remains confident that the move to the Imtech Arena will prove positive.

"It was my very first Bundesliga match. And we were sleeping in the first half as a team," said Green, who won only five of his 17 direct duels. "I don't get busy with those stats. I know what I can do. And I will show it here."

On Saturday, Green could start against his former Bayern teammates when the sides meet in Hamburg. But it is still unclear whether newly appointed Hamburg coach Joe Zinnbauer, who replaced the sacked Mirko Slomka this week, will pick the youngster.

"It will not be the last sacking in my career. That's just normal in football. But all hopes for this season are totally independent from the coach," he insisted. "I want to win minutes, score goals, and show that I can hold my ground at the highest level."

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