By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, July 11 (Xinhua) -- No other player in Bayern Munich's squad stands for the Bavarian note more than he does.
But times have become hard for the last FCB squad member born in Germany's most southern province. While Thomas Mueller for the fans and his club's marketing managers is an important identification figure they don't want to miss, the 27-year-old has to struggle to play a main role in the plans of his coach Carlo Ancelotti. Some call the upcoming season the hardest challenge in Mueller's career so far.
After a rather poor last season, Mueller decided to face the challenge and has announced he is ready to gain back a main role in the 2017 German Champions game. He is responsible for goals and his obligation is to be of great value when it comes to Bayern's offensive game, Mueller said. A brave heart seems to be included in his Bavarian mentality which is based on never-ending optimism.
Optimism is needed when Mueller is reading the message between the lines of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the clubs powerful CEO. The former German international told Mueller to better be motivated to do better than last season when he intends to get back to Bayern's strongest line-up. Mueller will have to improve, Rummenigge said. The competition in the team is extremely strong, Rummenigge emphasized.
Last season, Mueller only played a minor role scoring five league goals, finding himself sidelined in many important games such as the quarterfinal against Real Madrid in the Champions League. In the second leg against the Spaniards and the prestige duel in the German cup against Borussia Dortmund, Mueller was only substituted for a few minutes. In the Bundesliga, it took as long as 999 minutes to score his first season goal. In the season before Mueller had scored 20 goals and was one of Bayern's cornerstones.
Some saw him as a victim of his coach's strategy to mainly rely on a tactical 4-3-3 which requires strong wing positions to support Bayern's spearhead Robert Lewandowski in the opponent's box and a solid midfield. The flanks in Munich are booked by Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben or Kingsley Coman. Mueller's game is strong when he is allowed as much freedom as possible to intrude the opponent's defense. He is neither a game developer like Thiago nor the type to destroy the opponent's game in one-to-one duels.
When it comes to former Bayern Munich director of sports Matthias Sammer the value of a unique type like Mueller depends on the coaches' decision. He either prefers to have a solid hierarchy structure in the team or he wants to only rely on the playing ability. Sumner is convinced that a team such as Bayern with its deep regional roots, in the long run, won't do well without a type like Mueller.
Mueller's current optimism is mainly based on his unbreakable fighting spirit and a long and intensive preseason preparation. Like other German stars Mueller was given a break in the German national team in order to recover one year in advance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Bayern coach Ancelotti regards the long break as an advantage for a player such as Mueller as his games requires a strong physical constitution. But Mueller is aware of the fact that he will have to deliver an outstanding performance to challenge Thiago, Robben, Ribery and Corentin Tolisso and convince Ancelotti.
On top Mueller knows about the new competition in the German national team after the German B-team won the 2017 Confederation Cup in Russia. Several talents are eager to gain a place in the World Cup squad of German head coach Joachim Loew.
A good season 2017/2018 is needed, says Mueller, in order to keep a top position. He is willing to face the challenge as the important weeks are yet to come when the German team are starting their preparation in advance of the World Cup. Then it counts, Mueller told German media.
After last week's training start with his club Mueller was trying to ease tension, making fun and spreading a good mood.
Worried Bayern fans, he told on his social media accounts, things are fine with him after hard training sessions and he is occasionally rewarded with a bowl of ice-cream at the end of hard days full of training.
Not only Sammer is positive about Mueller's attempt to recapture a key position in the team, but former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld as well.
Mueller has the ability to motivate younger players in the team, Hitzfeld is convinced. He is optimistic Mueller will manage to get back to best shape after a long and relaxing break. Mueller, Hitzfeld said, was and in the future will be an important factor in Bayern's game.
