Bayern Strikes
Fansided

Five takeaways from Bayern Munich’s pre-season tour of Asia

By Benjamin Scott

SINGAPORE - JULY 27: Bayern Munich team eleven lineup poses during the International Champions Cup match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Internazionale at National Stadium on July 27, 2017 in Singapore. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images for ICC)
SINGAPORE - JULY 27: Bayern Munich team eleven lineup poses during the International Champions Cup match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Internazionale at National Stadium on July 27, 2017 in Singapore. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images for ICC) /
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SINGAPORE – JULY 25: Thomas Muller
SINGAPORE – JULY 25: Thomas Muller /

3) Thomas Muller is ready for the season and hungry for goals

If one Bayern Munich player truly had a great pre-season tournament it was Thomas Muller. The Bavarian born German international was the best player at the Telekom Cup and carried his form with him into Bayern’s Asia tour.

Standing in as captain for the injured Manuel Neuer, the Raumdeuter gave an excellent showing for himself in all matches.

This was particularly true against Chelsea, where Muller scored two of Bayern’s three goals in an exciting first half display.

The first was a rather acrobatic volley (as acrobatic as Muller can be at least) at the end of a Franck Ribery cross. The second a wonderfully struck shot placed perfectly past Thibaut Courtouis into the bottom right corner from 25-yards out.

Last season was a poor one for the German, despite him finishing as runner-up in Bundesliga assists. Muller seems to have put last season’s woes behind him though and is focused on the campaign to come.

The World Cup is just next summer, and Muller surely has his eyes set on another Golden Boot. Now-teammate James Rodriguez just edged him out of the last one after the German won the prestigious award in 2010.

Whatever the motivation behind Muller’s return to form, it’s working. And both Carlo Ancelotti and the Bayern Munich board have noticed. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge himself spoke of the importance of Thomas Muller.

"“If we created a Bayern player from scratch Thomas Müller would be the result. He represents the club like no one else.”"

The importance of the Raumdeuter to Bayern Munich’s success cannot be understated. Generally, if Muller plays well, Bayern plays well. This pre-season has been the exception to that rule, but it nevertheless stands.

Having an in-form Thomas Muller would be a major boost to Bayern Munich’s title-winning chances this season. In fact, there’s nothing that could be more beneficial than the world’s best space interpreter finding his perfect place in Bayern’s star-studded squad.