Julian Green will not be on the U.S. national team's squad at next month's CONCACAF Gold Cup, with U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann saying on Tuesday that the 20-year-old needs some time off after a difficult season at Hamburg.
"He had that extreme, long year," Klinsmann said from Cologne, where the U.S. will meet world champions Germany on Wednesday in a friendly. "He needs a break now, so we leave him out of the Gold Cup."
Green was a controversial selection to Klinsmann's squad for last summer's World Cup. But while the German-American, who had only played a handful of minutes for club team Bayern Munich during the 2013-14 season, scored a memorable goal in extra time of the Americans' round of 16 loss to Belgium in his lone appearance, 2014-15 was a step backwards for the youngster.
He spent the season on loan from Bayern at Hamburg, where he made just five Bundesliga appearances under four different managers for a club that barely avoided relegation to Germany's second tier.
"Julian took the risk to leave his nest in Munich and go, as a 19-year-old person, to another club," Klinsmann said. "It didn't work out the way we all hoped."
Green wasn't included on the American squad for this month's two friendlies in Europe, which kicked off with last week's 4-3 win over the Netherlands. Instead, Green played with the U.S. under-23s, helping that team to a third-place finish at the Toulon Tournament in France.
The ups and downs are part of the learning process for a young player, according to Klinsmann.
"Sometimes it's good to throw them in the cold water," Klinsmann said. "Sometimes it's better to take them out of cold water and let them breathe a second."
Without the national team to worry about, Green can focus on finding a new club. Klinsmann said that Green will return to Bayern, which will determine where he will play next season. Another loan deal is possible.
"Youngsters have to go through those roller coasters," Klinsmann said. "They're learning through that."