AAt the end of the successful working day, he failed across the board. After his Bayern Munich team beat FC Schalke 04 6-0 (2-0), Thomas Müller wanted to encourage his colleague Leroy Sané to dance in front of the fan curve in the Munich stadium on Saturday evening – but no chance, Sané seemed almost shy and smiling at the moment .
So Müller danced with others in front of the south stand, the fans celebrated him, shouted “Müller on the fence!” But that was too much for the 33-year-old. Probably also because the championship is still open and Müller didn’t want to celebrate too euphorically.
It was his weekend too. The world champion made it 1-0 (21st minute), it was his 144th goal in the Bundesliga. Müller’s situation was during the week the been a big topic in Munich.
Celebrating the victory and starting eleven: Thomas Müller celebrates the 6-0 win over Schalke
Source: Getty Images/Alexander Hassenstein
There was even speculation about a change of club next summer, reports of offers from the USA and interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia. Thomas Tuchel had not called Müller into the starting XI twice in a row in the league, and the world champion was only a substitute in the important quarter-finals in the Champions League against Manchester City.
Now the coach let him play again from the start, Müller led the team against Schalke as captain, the offensive star Sadio Mané, who was signed in the summer, stayed out. And Bayern showed their best performance since Tuchel took over as coach from Julian Nagelsmann, who had been released from his duties at the end of March. Müller conducted, ran a lot and was involved in many attacking actions with young star Jamal Musiala.
“Exactly how it should be done”
Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic enthused after the rout against the Gelsenkirchen team, who were totally overwhelmed, especially defensively: “We have gained a lot of self-confidence. We scored a lot of goals. We went at a good pace. We did it the way you have to do it.”
Bayern remain at the top of the table, still have a point advantage over second-placed Borussia Dortmund and have a much better goal difference. “I’m glad I scored the can opener. That was a great feeling,” said Müller. “The arena exploded – and we kept going.”
Midfield boss Joshua Kimmich with his first penalty and the 25th goal in the league (29th) and national striker Serge Gnabry (50th/65th) used the enormous weaknesses in Schalke’s defense for more goals. Substitute attacker Mathys Tel (80′) and defender Noussair Mazraoui scored his debut goal for FC Bayern in injury time.
“You can see that Thomas is indispensable,” said President Herbert Hainer when he came out of the team dressing room after the win. Tuchel said: “A very good performance. If the president says so, then the coach doesn’t contradict.” 18 of the 19 Bayern goals under Tuchel came when Müller was on the field.
During the week there was a conversation between club boss Oliver Kahn, Salihamizic and Müller. The three met in the office of CEO Kahn in the club headquarters on Säbener Strasse. “I felt that this conversation was a reaction from FC Bayern to give me backing, because there was some outrageous speculation, especially with regard to these exchange stories,” said Müller in an interview with the ARD sports show. The crowd favorite has spent his entire professional career with the record champions. The championship title this season would already be his twelfth.
“If you don’t play, nobody is super happy,” said Müller. “With us, the trainer is specially employed to make the line-up and distribute the roles. We then have to accept this and carry it out one hundred percent in the interests of the team. We want to be German champions.”
He emphasized: “This is not a one-man show. Football has always been a team sport, I’ve always lived by that credo.” Müller’s contract with the German record champions runs until June 2024. “My heart is red,” he said on Saturday evening. “Well, everyone’s red, but mine might be a little redder.”
His trainer Tuchel said it wasn’t worth “opening the big keg” with Müller’s personnel. Müller had been ailing at times and in the past few weeks was not completely free in his movements and was not free of pain.
Coach Tuchel praises Müller as exemplary
After a training break, the attacking professional then seemed “totally fresh and hot”. In the fight for the championship, Müller knows what is important, said Tuchel. “The mixture fits.” Müller is “exemplary”. But: there will always be tight decisions in the line-up.
Sky expert Dietmar “Didi” Hamann sees Müller as a central factor for Munich. “Today it was a different Bayern team,” said the former Munich professional after the win against Schalke. “You haven’t seen a Bayern team like this under Thomas Tuchel. That was by far the best performance. I do not accept that their opponent was a second-rate. The Schalke came there with a big chest. But that was Bayern as we know them, and Thomas Müller played a key role in that.”
After a disappointing April with the end of the DFB Cup and failure in the Champions League, Bayern once again radiated more sovereignty in the final phase of the season. They should have won even higher against Schalke. Müller admitted that he should have scored more often, the opportunities were there. The 6-0 was the champion’s third win in a row. “It was a small festival, it was fun,” says Müller. “But next week will be a completely different game.”
On Saturday (6.30 p.m., Sky) he and his team welcome RB Leipzig in the top game of the 33rd matchday. Fourth in the table from Saxony definitely wants to qualify for the Champions League. “We’re stronger than you might think,” said Müller confidently. Dortmund will also play after Bayern next weekend, only playing at FC Augsburg on Sunday (5:30 p.m., DAZN). It’s nice to be able to submit, they say at FC Bayern.
On Saturday evening, Hainer grinned and offered a special bonus for Bavarian help in the championship fight: “It’s always nice to win the championship at home, but the others have to play their part. If the people of Augsburg win, they get a free Paulaner beer train.”
Two games, two wins – and Bayern are champions in any case. The math is simple. Implementation a challenge. “It’s going to be 0-0 again next week, so there’s no reason to be completely euphoric and think about any preliminary decisions,” said Tuchel.
“The art now is to stay focused and in the tunnel. We have to tackle the next game again with determination, ease and joy. ”There are only finals left now. “I assume that we need two wins.”
