Thomas Müller (32) is about to play his first international match under Hansi Flick. On Tuesday, the Bayern pro spoke about the first mini-score, the new momentum and his role.
Oliver Hartmann and Sebastian Wolff report from the national team
The early end of duty at No. 6 in the shadow of Hamburg’s Volkspark Stadium is by no means an indication of his status. Together with the other Bayern professionals, still in action in the Bundesliga against Frankfurt on Sunday, Thomas Müller was allowed to return to the hotel a little earlier than the other internationals, but there is no savings programme planned for the 32-year-old: He blossomed again under Hansi Flick at Bayern two years ago, and under the new national coach he will also play a central role in the national team.
Flick’s first three international matches in September Müller had missed with an injury, but made a good impression in the spectator role. Now he himself wants to play a part in confirming the feeling of a fragile upswing. “Not only did we play seriously in these games, especially against Armenia and Iceland, but there were also beautiful moves and great goals,” says Müller, knowing full well that “the opponents were not the top category. But we’ve also had opponents in the past who weren’t from the top category and still didn’t always play to nil or were so convincing.”
Of course, it is “easier to win a match in the World Cup qualifiers than against a top opponent in a European Championship finals, we don’t have to lie to ourselves about that. But I think we saw playful elements that are important to the coaching team.” The Munich native therefore sees “a little momentum” and elaborates on this thought: “In a way, it is a put-on new momentum, because a new coach naturally puts on new things. We are part of a swinging movement.” And the veteran is expected to be a central part.
In the 4-2-3-1 system, Flick has plenty of options for the ten-man position with Müller, Kai Havertz, Marco Reus and also Ilkay Gündogan. The 2014 World Cup winner should get them against Romania in Hamburg on Friday, but says himself: “We have excellent alternatives especially in this area.” He sees his coach and confidant from their Munich days in the position of “having to make tough decisions” and believes that the line-up for the ten-position could well change from time to time. “We have players with different profiles there.”
Müller himself above all also fulfils the profile of the leader, and since the pandemic-related ghost games this has been perceived by the public even more than before. I can’t do much with the term “playing co-coach”, he emphasises. It’s just that there are different types, I’m one who addresses a lot, tries to give pertinent information. But from my point of view, that’s being put higher than it is, and it’s just become clearer through Corona.” What is indisputable is that Müller is back. And that should be on show on Friday above all else.
