Thomas Müller is an elder statesman now at Bayern Munich. No longer a fixture in the XI but no less influential, he is Bayern’s Special One — just without any of the ego.
Müller was asked about his “special status” on the team in a wide-ranging interview for Bundesliga.com, and he stressed that his focus is on using his powers for the collective good.
“I have this status not because I was given it, but because I fulfill every role, no matter what it is, with passion,” the 35-year-old veteran said in remarks captured by @iMiaSanMia. “I want to influence my teammates naturally, and as positively as I can because that is the best for both me and the team.
“When you approach a younger player, it’s clear that you want to help them perform better so they can realize their potential and contribute to the overall success. It is therefore obvious for me to do that, but I also know that not everyone has the capacity to take care of others while also focusing on their own game. Also, perhaps some others are not confident enough to share information with others. That’s why I try to remove everyone’s reservations a bit.”
From mentoring the likes of Jamal Musiala to Aleksandar Pavlović, to the even publicly critiquing fellow captain Joshua Kimmich when he feels it is warranted, Müller is definitely not shy when it comes to making himself heard. His role on the field may not be what it once was now under Vincent Kompany, but the Raumdeuter clearly still has much to offer to the team.
