As of: February 2, 2024, 3:20 p.m
By: Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke
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Thomas Müller is still extremely important for FC Bayern.
© Daniel Löb/dpa
Recently, Thomas Müller was only on the bench three times in a row.
Nevertheless, the veteran still sets the direction at FC Bayern, as he did now before the game against Gladbach.
Munich - Listen up everyone: Radio Müller is back on the air - and has an important announcement to make.
Just in time for the Bundesliga home game on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Sky) against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Thomas Müller (34) is swearing his Bayern into a hot title fight with league leaders Leverkusen.
“In fact, January and February are more about getting your points and doing the 'invisible work' of the season.
But we’ll safely throw that overboard,” the attacker explains in the latest issue of his newsletter.
After Munich's mistake against Werder Bremen (0-1), Leverkusen's zero number last week against Gladbach (0-0) brought the German record champions back into the head-to-head race for the championship.
Only two points separate Bayern from Bayer.
“This creates a direct connection to the place in the sun.
That provides additional motivation,” emphasizes Müller and calculates: “With two wins against Gladbach and Leverkusen, we can climb to the top on our own.” After the game against the Fohlen, it’s matchday 21 (February 10, 6:30 p.m.) to Leverkusen.
According to Müller, it’s “a blast.
So these are real weeks of truth.”
The oldie, who was not in the starting line-up three times in a row, is currently optimistic about the team's morale.
“Even if we don’t always shine, what I appreciate about our current performances is that we continue to do our thing despite the misery of injuries,” said Müller and, looking at last week’s 3-2 win in Augsburg, said: “We have matured as a team in this respect , to score points even with forced changes.”
At FCA, Bayern had to rely on experienced players such as Minjae Kim (27/Asian Cup), Noussair Mazraoui (26/Africa Cup), Dayot Upamecano (25/torn muscle fiber in thigh), Joshua Kimmich (28/bruised shoulder), Konrad Laimer (26/ Torn muscle fiber in the calf) and Serge Gnabry (28/adductor tendon injury) are without.
Kingsley Coman (27/torn knee ligament) was also seriously injured in the game.
After all, the signings of right-back Sacha Boey (23/came from Galatasaray Istanbul for just under 30 million euros) and Bryan Zaragoza (22/early move from Granada) give the record champions two new options for the important game against Gladbach.
Mazraoui, who has returned from the Moroccan national team, should also slip back into the squad.
Coach Thomas Tuchel (50), who was unable to lead two training sessions during the week due to a flu-like infection, also has hope for the game on Saturday.
The session on Friday took place again under his supervision.
“We are very positive that he can be at the game,” said sports director Christoph Freund (46), who answered questions about the game against Gladbach at the press conference on Friday in Tuchel’s absence.
Freund and Co. expect Borussia to have a similar orientation to last week in Leverkusen, i.e. with a five-man defense.
“It certainly won’t be an easy game.
“Gladbach have a lot of quality and are strong in the transition game,” warns the Austrian.
“It will definitely be a big challenge, but we definitely want to win the game.”
Müller doesn't want to think about Lazio yet
Bayern have title ambitions not only in the Bundesliga, but also in the Champions League.
In the round of 16, Munich will face Lazio.
“I have to say, due to the exceptional situation described above and the direct encounter with championship rivals Leverkusen, the match against Lazio Rome is not really in my focus yet,” says Müller.
He wants to stick to the “step-by-step method” because it works best.
“And then on Valentine’s Day (the first leg in Rome takes place on February 14th, editor’s note) you don’t have to stand there with the rose in your hand, but with the ball in the opponent’s net,” he jokes in typical Müller style .
Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke