Thomas Müller (34) hasn’t even played the full 90 minutes for FC Bayern this season. Thomas Tuchel is full of praise.
No place for the veteran in the Bavarian offensive? Thomas Müller (left) in conversation with FCB coach Thomas Tuchel. IMAGO/ActionPictures
It may be “just” any Bundesliga game against Darmstadt 98, but FC Bayern could write two special stories on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker). On the one hand, there is the outshining return of Manuel Neuer. On the other hand, there is also someone waiting who recently almost disappeared from the scene.
Thomas Müller is still missing a goal or an assist in his career and would have broken the magical mark of 500 scorer points. In Istanbul, the Bavarian veteran could have broken this absurd figure last Tuesday, but remained just a spectator for the entire distance. Inadvertently?
“I made a mistake in my thinking at Galatasaray,” explained Thomas Tuchel on Friday and couldn’t help but grin. Müller was supposed to come on as a substitute after just over 75 minutes, until Jamal Musiala made it 3-1. “And then I had the feeling,” said Tuchel, “that if I subbed him on now, it would be like this: ‘Now it’s 3-1, now Thomas can play.’ That felt strange to me, but it resonated completely differently with him.” That means: Müller would have liked to still play. “In that case, I’ll take it upon myself.”
No place for Müller in Bayern’s offensive
Nevertheless, after almost a quarter of the season, the question must be asked: Where is Thomas Müller right now? The former long-running favorite hasn’t been allowed to play the full 90 minutes once this season and has only been in the starting line-up three times. “A player who is used to playing, whose strength is developing a rhythm, will never like that and should never like that,” says Tuchel. “Of course it’s easier to accept that a few times than several times. That’s completely normal.”
At the moment, it seems that there is simply no place available for Müller in the Bavarian offensive. Harry Kane is not playing outstandingly yet, but after twelve competitive games he already has seventeen points scorer. Leroy Sané has now had two exceptionally mixed performances, but otherwise he is so far the Player of the Munich season. Kingsley Coman recently scored in three competitive games in a row, and Jamal Musiala was Bayern’s best in Istanbul. So where should Müller go?
Theoretically, because Leon Goretzka was out, Tuchel would have had the opportunity to play Müller and Musiala together against Galatasaray, i.e. to play with a double eight and sacrifice a six. Judging by how the game went, the option chosen by the coach to bring in a little more balance was definitely the right one. Otherwise, things might have looked even worse in the first half than they already did.
Müller: A lot of praise from coach Tuchel
Tuchel is unlikely to sacrifice the four offensives, which are “simply extremely dangerous,” “even if we play badly,” against Darmstadt, but theoretically he would still have the opportunity to throw Müller in anyway. “I can only give Thomas the highest compliment,” praises the coach. “The energy he brings to the team; how he’s training at the moment; how he’s training with the small group he’s often in that hasn’t played. That’s sensationally good and absolutely exemplary. I also think that’s what he’s doing internally “Sometimes he feels different, but he doesn’t show it and he’s really a team player at an extremely high level.”
He simply remains an important player, he has proven that often enough.
Tuchel believes that Müller – in whatever form – will still be important for Bayern. “Especially in the condition he is in now, in the state of mind. He simply remains an important player, he has proven that often enough. I am sure that the opportunity will come when he can do that for us in this one too season will prove.” Maybe in a Thomas Müller game.
2023-10-27 16:05:10
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