Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller attends a training session in Munich, Germany, April 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Philippe Ruiz)
Bayern striker Thomas Mueller, in a recent Xinhua interview, spoke about the 2013 treble winners' chances to win the Champions League campaign.
By Oliver Trust and Liu Yang
BERLIN, June 3 (Xinhua) -- It might not be a surprise to meet Thomas Mueller in good spirits. The 30-year-old striker is riding the wave in the Bundesliga with his club Bayern Munich.
After a typical Bavarian greeting such as "servus," the 2014 World Champion in a recent Xinhua interview spoke about the 2013 treble winners' chances to win the Champions League campaign, and possibly having to face a break of a week in advance of the significant club event coming to a restart.
He praised the work of head-coach Hansi Flick, said his favorite position is the "10" behind the spearheading striker. Mueller said having to choose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; he would go for Robert Lewandowski.
With an assumed restart of the Champions League in August, the German national league will be finished while other leagues might continue as they restarted later due after the COVID-19 break.
"Having to deal with a break is far from ideal. And I am a little skeptical," the striker commented.
"But there is no time to complain. We have to take things as they come as we still intend to win the thing," he added.
Currently, Bayern isn't afraid of any international opponent as the team's engines are filled with energy. The Bavarians are facing Chelsea in a second leg of the last-16-round following a 3-0 win in the first duel.
"First of all, we have to see how the teams come out of the corona-break."
Mueller said he might have preferred Messi in his past as a box-striker in Bayern's shirt. Now he might change to Ronaldo as he is placed on the 10. "But if you ask me about the ideal partner, I tell you: We have got Robert Lewangoalski. He is the best striker I could think of."
He praised the superstars Messi and Ronaldo as unique and outstanding.
He desires to find unexplored spaces between the lines despite him changing positions with team-mates along the flanks. "I am more efficient in the middle," he said, adding: "The distance to the goal is much shorter as I am always on the hunt."
Thomas Mueller (2nd L) of Bayern Munich celebrates a score with teammates during a German Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Augsburg in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Philippe Ruiz)
He was named space interpreter in 2011 playing together with game conducting Bastian Schweinsteiger and the wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
"That time, I had to find a job for me aside from these dominant figures. That was finding spaces no one was considering," he emphasized. Finding the right timing for runs in the box is his most substantial-quality, aside from delivering assists that he mostly does today.
The 2013 Champions League winner said games behind closed doors are a challenge. "You don't get emotional reactions from the stands, and you have to change your celebrations after a goal," he said.
Mueller called it a strange feeling to play without fans. "This is not the situation we want, but we are happy to play again." Even though players can hear each other and exchange information, "I hope we can return to games with fans as soon as possible."
Current football feels like amateur football. "They come to the pitch and start right away without much around."
Bayern head coach Flick has changed the game to a more aggressive style. The entire team feels confident about that. "We right away attack the opponent," he said. Early ball wins allow Bayern to take a short cut to the goal, "as most opponents aren't well organized in these moments. It's a game of high intensity."
His team can get in unexpected spaces that way and use its individual qualities.
He only knew Flick as an assistant coach, "but not as a head coach. I am very impressed with how he manages things."
Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic (R) gets away from Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Britain on Feb. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Matthew Impey)
As a national team coach, everyone is behind you. At Bayern, "not all media are your friend. You have to face the pressure always having to deliver. Only when you deliver, you have a nice time, especially with a big club like Bayern."
It is the same for players, he added, referring to his era of 12 years with the German record champion. "You have to convince the club that you can help reach the goals."
The Bavarian icon said sports must use its power to bring people together despite their skin color or other differences.
The forward also underlined his support for the latest protest gestures of fellow Bundesliga players after the tragic death of African American George Floyd while arrested by the US police.
"The signal must be: It doesn't matter how you look like or how you speak." Respect for others must be a vital message of all kind of sports, he said. ■
