Thomas Müller's future probably settled, everyone happy

FC Bayern is a phenomenon. The club has been unbeaten in the group stage of the Champions League for 40 matches. The game in Manchester will bring this streak to an end. Not because they will lose, but because the format will change. But before that, a hero's journey awaits. Including Thomas Müller, of course.

Yesterday, all seemed wrong at FC Bayern. Now the record champions have a bright future again. At least that is one constant. Another: Thomas Tuchel's team continues to offer few real points of attack and can still have justified hopes of returning to Wembley after the 1-0 (0-0) win at Manchester United. The Champions League final will be held there, as it was in May 2013. For FC Bayern, Wembley is both a place of memory and a place of longing.

Unbeaten in their last ever Champions League group stage match, Bayern - as in previous years - had nothing to worry about in their six games against Manchester United, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. They played in their own league, sometimes with their opponents, and have now gone 40 games unbeaten in the group stage. Their last defeat, a 3-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, was over six years ago. There will not be another one. The changed format of the top flight no longer thinks in groups.

"We came through the group stage brilliantly and showed that we are one of the big clubs who rightly have ambitions to win. We want to prove that in the next round," said the satisfied CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen at his banquet speech after the success at Old Trafford: "Manchester was really worth the trip, a big compliment to the team."

What makes Dreesen really happy

After the 5-1 defeat in Frankfurt last weekend, doubts had once again been raised about the team, with critics pouncing on the club like ravenous hyenas, but coach Thomas Tuchel's team ignored them. "Today we were back! That's what we know from FC Bayern," said Dreesen, shouting to the players: "You, dear team, have shown it: We are always there in the Champions League!"

Bayern were also there again because Thomas Müller was there. The 34-year-old is getting less and less playing time this season and, when he is on the pitch, is rarely able to bring about decisive moments. Everything was different at Old Trafford, however. That made Dreesen "all the happier".

Because the club icon entered the pitch in the 67th minute and helped set up Kingsley Coman's goal in the 70th minute. Müller did what hardly anyone does better. Standing in the penalty area, he poked the ball to Harry Kane, who played a dream pass. Müller failed to score directly. He has only scored two goals in 17 competitive appearances this season and has also provided four assists.

But instead of the maximum possible 1530 minutes in these 17 games, he only played 622 minutes on the pitch. His influence may be waning, but as the voice of FC Bayern he is still the most important man. Immediately after the defeat against Eintracht, he called for the "anger engine" to be turned on. Bayern did just that, on a low flame, because the Manchester United players, who were resigned to their fate, did not require the "anger engine". Instead of anger, Bayern mostly simply exercised control.

New contract this year?

The future of Bayern idol Müller may also have been clarified around the game. "There is no one who has internalized FC Bayern like him. We know what we have in him," said sporting director Christoph Freund on the sidelines of the game and also addressed the diminished role of the 2014 world champion. "It's a special situation for Thomas, but we're in good communication. He behaves extremely professionally towards the team."

This professionalism, but even more so his personality, which has long since merged with that of FC Bayern, should soon lead to news that should delight all supporters of the record champions. As reported by "Sport Bild", the club and player are said to be largely in agreement over a new contract. The papers are to be signed before the end of the year, according to reports.

No departure in the winter and no free transfer in the summer. At least one more year until 2025, when the final of the then new premier class will return to the Allianz Arena in Munich for the first time since 2012, following Bayern's inglorious defeat to Chelsea. A win there would be the crowning glory of one of the greatest careers in German soccer history.

Harry Kane wants to go to Wembley first

Harry Kane will not write German soccer history in this form. But he can break records and win titles - the latter would be more than he ever achieved with his old club, Tottenham Hotspur. Kane has always delivered since his move in the summer.

On his first return to the island as a Bayern Munich player, the €100 million man, who repeatedly dropped deep into midfield, was unable to score a fifth goal in the Premier League, but he did manage to collect an assist. Kane is now waiting three games for his 23rd goal for Bayern. It will happen. Nobody needs to worry about that. Not least because the England captain feels right at home in his new country.

"Everyone has been incredible since I arrived at Bayern," said Kane after the game on the microphone of British broadcaster TNT: "I have a feeling there's more to come. I feel I'm getting a better understanding of what the coach wants. I feel comfortable here." The 30-year-old striker spoke about his wonderful return to England and set his sights on an even greater return to Wembley, the former temporary home of his former club Tottenham Hotspur, on June 1, 2024.

"We started the season well, but I have the feeling that we can shift up a few gears," he said: "We have enough quality to go far in this competition. That's the goal, to win the Champions League. It will be difficult, but we have to improve. I believe we can still reach a higher level."

Sunday will decide the winter

Coach Thomas Tuchel is responsible for this, and unlike after the DFB Cup defeat to 1. FC Saarbrücken, he shrugged off the increasingly harsh criticism before the game and was unburdened after the match. "It was fun," he said on Prime Video: "That was at the highest level from a team level. It was our best game in the group stage."

And then he looked ahead to next year, just not as far ahead as Dreesen and Kane. "Sure, we definitely want to get to the quarter-finals," he said, talking about how anything is possible after that, of course. It would be the next step for the record champions, who have not made it past the last eight in the past three seasons. Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal and Manchester City were the last stops there.

This time there should be none until Wembley. Then all will be right with the world at FC Bayern for one summer. What will happen in the winter, however, will be decided by another game: on Sunday, the record champions host the sensational VfB Stuttgart team. Another win is needed. There's always something to do at Bayern.

Read also:

In the context of FC Bayern Munich's successful run in the Champions League, Thomas Müller played a crucial role, setting up Kingsley Coman's goal against Manchester United. This sparked joy in CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.

Despite calls for him to leave, Thomas Müller's future with FC Bayern seems secure, with reports suggesting a new contract will be signed before the end of the year.

Harry Kane, who joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur, is also looking forward to playing in Wembley, aiming to win the Champions League with his new club.

Source: www.ntv.de