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"Thomas Müller always plays." It's been ten years since then coach of Bayern Munich, Louis van Gaal, made this statement. The times when it was the law in Munich are long gone.
Just over half of the possible game minutes Müller completed this season. Asked a few weeks ago by a reporter on Müllers existence as a reservist, trainer Niko Kovac weighed down: Müller would play again, should be "an emergency". An affront. Kovac apologized for the statement. The public impression, coaches and players did not find each other, but could not be kitten.
The dismissal of Kovac marks a fresh start for Bayern Munich, but especially for Müller. The longtime national player has the opportunity to play under his co-coach Hansi Flick in his favorite position: the ten's in a 4-2-3-1 system. Müller's biggest competitors are his team-mate Philippe Coutinho - and the tactical Zeitgeist.
Müller invented the "space interpretation"
Review: The fact that Müller was set for years both at Bayern and in the national team, was due to his innovative interpretation of the ten-role. After the 4-2-3-1 formation had celebrated the triumphal march in world football in the mid-'0s, the game of the tens changed: his freedom of movement was suddenly limited. The opponents blocked his space by tightening their quads. The tenth as an omnipresent game designer behind the tips? That was a thing of the past.
Müller never saw himself as a creative player, but as a contributor: he shuttled from wing to wing, occupied spaces that left his colleagues, provided for preponderance situations. Müller was there, where he was needed. Müller was not the fixed point of the game, but connector: He joined the two wings with the storm center.
Müller christened his interpretation of the ten position in an interview "Raumdeuter": He sees gaps that hardly anyone else sees, and sprints in, again and again. Müller's style prevailed, the term "Raumdeuter" was recorded even in England in the football language.
The tactical zeitgeist changes
As long as the 4-2-3-1 formation was the measure of all things, this was also Müller. But the football world never stands still. Of the ten best-placed teams in the Bundesliga, only two play it regularly: Borussia Dortmund - and Bayern.
And Kovac questioned the 4-2-3-1. When he came to Munich in the summer of 2018, he preferred a 4-3-3 system. Müller had to play on the outer striker position, mostly on the right wing. Although he masters these too. His great strength - the joining of the wings as a ten - he can not bring here. His weaknesses are much more apparent here: balls jump him, his flanks like to land behind the goal, his shot quality fluctuates.
Kovac stroked Müller more often from the team. National coach Joachim Löw finally buried the 4-2-3-1 system at the same time, having already tested new formations the year before. There was no room for Müller.
New season, new problems
In the past second half Kovac returned to 4-2-3-1. Müller was again a regular player, in the final stages of the season, he tied to old achievements. As a tens he again indicated spaces that nobody else saw.
In the new season Müller was again only second choice. The reason is Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian loaned from Barcelona is a completely different type of player than Müller: a dribbler with a fine foot and an eye for the right pass. He, too, feels most comfortable at the Ten. Coutinho does not like playing as well as Müller, his trajectories are more predictable and less ingenious. Coutinho is technically one, if not two classes stronger than Müller. Kovac appreciated this on his new superstar and preferred him to Müller.
Kovac's dismissal gives Müller a new chance. Interim coach Hansi Flick went in his first game the path of the least resistance: In the 2-0 victory against Olympiakos Piraeus, he set up his team in 4-2-3-1. The four defenders and Joshua Kimmich remained deep, the five front players were allowed to let off steam. The Bayern played for the first time since the end of September back to zero - and Müller acted as a tenth in his favorite role.
It is quite possible that Müller may play this role in the top match against Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 18.30, live in the SPIEGEL Ticker). His luck: Even Coutinho alienates with the Bayern system. He lacks the playing stations when he starts dribbling in his beloved left hemisphere. Always fit only on the wings, as the Bavarian philosophy provides, limits the creative free spirit.
Müller does not care. It blooms when others are at the heart of the game. As long as Flick stays true to the 4-2-3-1 system, Muller's chances for a regular place increase. He can only hope that Flick or any successor will remain loyal to the 4-2-3-1 or at least put on a system that offers Müller place in the offensive midfield. Then maybe soon again: van Gaals sentence: "Thomas Müller always plays."
