Two days after the bitter defeat in the Major League Soccer final against Inter Miami for world star Lionel Messi, the Vancouver Whitecaps made a groundbreaking personnel decision: Thomas Müller will definitely stay with the club in the coming season.
The club officially pulled out the contractually agreed option and continues to rely on the experience and leadership qualities of the 2014 German world champion. Despite the 1:3 defeat against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, confidence prevails in Canada – not least because of the development that the team has made this season.
Coach Jesper Sörensen made it clear that the core of the team remains together, even if a lot has changed internally. “It will mostly be the same players, but not the same group because so much has happened this season. I believe that we will be a better team next season,” said the Dane with a view to the new season.
The finals laid the foundation on which we can now build. “We’re not starting from the beginning, but from a good level.”
In addition to Müller, Sebastian Schonlau is also part of the squad for the coming season. However, the former captain of Hamburger SV has not yet been able to make an impact after his move, as persistent problems with his Achilles tendon have slowed him down. Those responsible hope that the defender can play a larger role after a full recovery.
Müller immediately became Canadian champions with Vancouver
Sörensen was once again particularly enthusiastic about Thomas Müller, who moved to the MLS in the summer after the Club World Cup after 25 years at FC Bayern Munich. Despite a long and highly successful career, the 35-year-old has lost none of his ambition.
“He still feels like he has something to prove to himself and he wants to figure out every day how he can get better,” the coach explained. Müller’s curiosity and attention to detail are exemplary: “He wants to know every detail, wants to know what we think and how we think, so that he can help his colleagues on the pitch.”
With Müller as a fixture, the Whitecaps won the Canadian championship this season and made it to the MLS final.