Bundesliga
Matthäus’ request to Tuchel: Müller has to play
Sky expert Lothar Mattäus demands that Thomas Müller absolutely has to play in the championship final from the start. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
In the debate about Thomas Müller’s value for FC Bayern, Lothar Matthäus is clearly on the side of the 33-year-old offensive player. Coach Thomas Tuchel cannot do without Müller.
Lothar Matthäus advises Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel to definitely rely on Thomas Müller in the final of the exciting championship fight.
“I don’t see anyone in this team who has this charisma, this leadership gene. Sometimes as a coach you have to go against your convictions, especially when it comes to achieving a goal in the short term,” said the German Soccer record national player in his Sky column.
The German record champions, who are one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund before the last two games of the season, cannot do without the 33-year-old Müller. If Tuchel leaves Müller out against RB Leipzig on Saturday and Bayern have fewer points than Dortmund after Matchday 33, “the voices of the people, the fans and the bosses will be very loud. And I don’t think that Tuchel wants to do that,” said Matthäus.
Müller is “the most important player”
In the middle of the season you could compensate for any point losses or defeats. He can also understand Tuchel to the effect that he has players with better talents in the respective positions. “But now there are only two games left and the most important performers have to appear there. And Thomas is one, if not the most important player,” said the 62-year-old.
Müller, according to Matthäus one of the greatest legends of FC Bayern and German football, was often not used in the starting XI under Tuchel. He was there from the start in the 6-0 win against FC Schalke 04 on Saturday, scored a goal and showed a strong performance.
The fact that Bayern President Herbert Hainer said after Müller’s 1-0 win against Schalke that the 33-year-old was indispensable “wasn’t that clever,” said Matthäus. “The president shouldn’t talk publicly into the line-up for the coach. It’s not part of his job and it’s another case that has been opened unnecessarily.”