Thomas Muller is enjoying best football under Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich showed resilience and strength to keep Paris Saint-Germain at bay last Sunday to clinch a 1-0 win in the Champions League final. The victory helped Die Roten to lift their sixth European trophy and complete the second treble in their history.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Rekordmeister since the departure of Niko Kovac at the start of November. The performances were inconsistent, and the club’s Bundesliga title defense looked in disarray as they were fourth in the league table.
One player that epitomizes Bayern’s recovery this season is Thomas Muller. The German forward was reportedly contemplating a move away from the club due to a lack of playing time under Kovac. However, he ended up staying and played a critical role in this treble-winning team.
Muller’s incredible work rate and clever play in the final third was on display against PSG last Sunday. Speaking to SportBild this week, Muller credited Hansi Flick to the change of fortunes of the team. The German forward also admitted that he is currently enjoying the best football of his career at the club.
"“Hansi Flick’s a person who not only finds the right words when speaking, but also hits the right tone that captures the players’ imagination.”“I’ve had my most dominant role since playing for Bayern. For my first treble, I was still in my younger years. But for a leadership role like the one I’ve been allowed recently, it’s important for the coach to show his trust in you. Hansi Flick did that. The rest is history. What he’s done with the team over the last 10 months is incredible.”"
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The 30-year-old forward was the creative force for Die Roten in the Bundesliga. He ended the campaign with 21 assists in the league. His overall output was one of the best in Europe this season as he ended up with 37 goal contributions across all competitions. It was his best season since Pep Guardiola left the club in 2016. (Stats courtesy: Whoscored)
Muller’s impressive number ten performances were also down to Flick’s astute management. The German forward was allowed to play in his favoured position every weekend in a very high pressing style of football. Continuity in the first team allowed Muller to gain good consistency in his performance and deliver every weekend.
Die Roten also decided to reward Muller’s performances with a new contract in April. At one point this season, it looked certain that he may leave the club. Now, it is pretty certain that Muller may end up become a one-club man and retire in Munich.
Thomas Muller is unlikely to play for the German national team again since Joachim Low has decided to stick with younger forwards for next year’s Euros. His omission may well help him to enjoy football at the club since he will have recovery time during the international breaks. With Flick likely to continue for at least two more seasons, the Bavarian faithful could see Muller getting even better in the next couple of seasons.