Babbel reveals: Thomas Müller wanted to leave - but Bayern icon prevented departure
Created: 2022-09-07 13:19
By: Caroline Metz
The fight for the championship trophy: Hermann Garland, Hansi Flick and Thomas Müller © Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON / imago
FC Bayern without Thomas Müller?
Hardly imaginable.
However, things could have turned out differently, as Markus Babbel now reveals.
Munich – Robert Lewandowski moved to Barcelona, Matthijs de Ligt now plays in Munich and Mario Götze at Eintracht Frankfurt – the Bundesliga stars are extremely change-friendly.
The transfer market is booming.
Thomas Müller, who has played for FC Bayern since 2008, shows that there is another way.
He has now accounted for more than 600 appearances for the record champion.
The 32-year-old has become an integral part of the Bayern squad and has shaped the team for years.
In the meantime he has even overtaken Oliver Kahn in the ranking of Bayern's record players.
Thomas Müller was about to move to Hoffenheim
In an interview with
Sport1
, ex-pro Markus Babbel recalls who kept Thomas Müller in the Bayern squad: "If it hadn't been for Hermann Gerland, Thomas Müller would have gone to Hoffenheim." Gerland trained Müller in the amateur team.
Shortly before his breakthrough, the Weilheimer considered moving to Hoffenheim.
Coach Gerland then campaigned vehemently for his protégé and made sure that he stayed in Munich.
For Markus Babbel, this is a good example of how much the clubs have a responsibility to keep and promote their own players: “Most of the time it’s like this: If you’re from your own stable, then you get a little smaller at first held.
[...] If it hadn't been for Hermann Gerland, Thomas Müller wouldn't have played 632 competitive games for FC Bayern.
Then he might have them for Hoffenheim now.
There are always two sides to it.”
Babbelt praises Thomas Müller's motivation
According to Babbel, it often happens that clubs do not sufficiently recognize talent in their own ranks and do not do enough for them.
An attitude that Babbel cannot understand: "When I have a player like Thomas Müller - you can see what moves him and what greed he still has."
The former national player still sees Müller at the top and is enthusiastic about his will to always give more: “He wants to break records, he wants to be German champion 20 times in a row, he now wants to go to the World Cup again.”
Is Müller on the pitch against Milan?
Before these dreams come true, however, there are still a few challenges - Müller himself recently warned against too much euphoria.
Although Bayern started the season well, they had to accept a draw in the last two matches.
In the 1-1 draw against Union Berlin, Müller only came on in the 62nd minute and was unable to avert the draw.
The first Champions League game against Inter Milan is now on the agenda for Wednesday.
Hermann Gerland will certainly take a look - and his former protégé Müller will probably be on the pitch.
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