On Saturday an already relegated Mainz team finished off the season against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena, unable to match the capital city club, going down by a score of 5-2.

Though the Rhine River club came out on the losing end of that particular encounter, there was one bright spot from an American point of view: the unexpected inclusion of 18-year old Neven Subotic in the starting XI.

"I found out the morning of the game during a walk in the park that I was going to start," Subotic told YA.

"It was a big surprise to me, but I could kind of see it coming because the other center back [Nikolce Noveski] was not able to play. Either way I was really happy and excited to have my debut vs. a team like Bayern."

Munich, living up to their nickname of FC Hollywood, had a tumultuous season and will not take part in the Champions League for the first time in a decade.

On top that, Mehmet Scholl was playing in his last game for Bayern after 15 seasons with the club.

The result was the 5-2 scoreline with the home team playing with something to prove in front of the home fans.

"Its a huge difference playing Oberliga with the 2nd team to playing in front of 69,000 vs. Bayern Munich, not just in the speed of play and player quality but also because of the atmosphere," Subotic explained.

"In the Oberliga you can scream and everyone will hear you on the field, in a packed Allianz Arena you cannot even hear your own voice so it makes it harder to communicate with other players."

"The biggest difference is obviously that players like Makaay and Pizzaro are in every aspect of the game better than the Oberliga strikers. They are faster, stronger, and very smart when it comes to playing the game. It was definitely a big change."

Two of Munich's goals came as the direct result of a Subotic mistake, but the young American was nonetheless satisfied with his 90 minutes on the field.

"I thought my performance was good, seeing how it was my first Bundesliga game. Obviously I made some mistakes which led to the 1-0 and 5-2, but that’s just how soccer is."

"When you play at this level every little wrong step can lead to a goal. But... overall I was happy with my first performance under the circumstances."

Coach Jürgen Klopp, who will stay with the team despite relegation, was also pleased.

"After the game Kloppo came to me and said he was happy with my performance and that the few mistakes that happened could have happened to anyone that day," Subotic recounted.

"He said I did super defending the forwards and winning balls. For a first time Bundesliga player he told me I did great."

The Mainz players have been set free for a much-needed vacation after the long season and will return to Mainz on July 22 for the start of preseason before next season's second Bundesliga campaign.

"On Wednesday I'm leaving for a week to visit some friends and family in Bosnia...Then I'm planning a trip with a couple of friends to Turkey to chill at a beach and just relax for a little bit [but] we also have a fitness plan that starts on June 6 that I will follow."

The fitness plan could be of great importance to the Bradenton product as the two current Mainz central defenders Manuel Friedrich and Noveski are both expected to leave the club in search of greener pastures, thus opening the door for Subotic to receive more first team playing time.