Bayern showed good talk as Muller played a major role after the players meeting
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Thomas Muller was very influential for Bayern Munich
Thomas Muller showed he remains indispensable to Bayern Munich as the veteran is grateful to have played a full part in the 3-0 demolition of Union Berlin.
With two assists, providing assists for Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala, the Bayern midfielder showed that he could still perform optimally.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the first goal, with Bayern three goals ahead at half-time and the game essentially a win. Musiala’s goal came on his 20th birthday, and the win came after a midweek team meeting amid a yield crunch.
With Muller captaining the team in the absence of injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, he found himself sacrificed just 16 minutes into Bayern’s previous Bundesliga game at Borussia Monchengladbach after defender Dayot Upamecano was sent off.
Julian Nagelsmann brought on Joao Cancelo to strengthen the back line, and Bayern went on to lose 3-2 on that occasion as the 33-year-old Muller watched helplessly, frustrated at being withdrawn so quickly.
“Obviously I didn’t enjoy it,” he said of Sunday’s experience, looking back.
But Muller emphasized it was also “no big deal”, telling DAZN: “The coach makes the decisions and of course every player – myself included – always has this feeling that he can give something to the team, even if he is outnumbered, to win the game. .
“We want to win a lot and it’s also about everyone accepting difficult decisions in the interest of the team and showing a reaction the next day in training – and not showing off in any way.”
Bayern players gathered this week for an evening team meeting, head coach Julian Nagelsmann has revealed.
It came amid a dip in their results, with Union and Borussia Dortmund joining leaders Bayern on level points going into the final game, putting hopes of an 11th successive title in jeopardy.
However, Bayern brushed aside Union indifferently, and while Muller came off for the break in the 87th minute, job done and credit. The meeting apparently had a positive impact.
Dortmund are continuing to keep pace with Bayern, and there is an incoming Klassiker who could tilt the title race, but Bayern showed enough against Union to suggest they are moving in the right direction again.
The expected goal comparisons between the teams underscore Bayern’s dominance, with Nagelsmann’s side posting a meager 3.56 xG to Union at 0.35, reflecting the quality and volume of opportunities that are coming their way.
Quoted further on Bayern’s official website, Muller called Bayern’s performance against Union “very lively”.
“For example, the way we managed to escape the attack. We have to be active like that,” he said. “We were always moving and aggressive in the tackle. For me it was really fun to be involved in those moments. It was a good game.
“We weren’t ahead at kick-off so had to do something about it. It was a good move but it doesn’t mean anything next week. We have to give again. I’m happy we made that move. You had to play like that against Union. It was is the first small step towards the kind of football we want to play.”
Nagelsmann described Bayern’s win as a “benchmark” result.
He added: “We were dominant in all areas. We had good chances 10-12 and missed a few chances.
“Union is not a team that gives you a lot of chances – that alone makes us perform well. We trained well and talked a lot. We wanted to show what we expect of ourselves. We played very well today.”
Confirming the players’ meeting, Nagelsmann said: “There were team nights, which weren’t surprising, but where the team talked about what they wanted. I think it paid off today.
“The medicine at Bayern is easy to give: you just need to win, then always be calm. If you don’t win, there will never be peace.”