Thomas Müller Analysis – What Makes Him Bayern’s and the Past Decade’s Assist King

This blog post dives into the world of Thomas Muller, a Bayern Munich and Bundesliga legend, analyzing what makes him one of the greatest assist providers of the past decade. The video, uploaded by Bundesliga’s official Youtube channel on February 15, 2020, explores the so-called “Muller Pattern” and how his anticipation and positional awareness have turned him into a world-class footballer.

The video opens by highlighting Muller’s achievements. Not only is he the Bundesliga’s assist king of the 2010s, but he also boasts the third-highest number of goals scored during that same period.

What truly sets Muller apart is his ability to interpret space on the field. He thrives on anticipating his teammates’ movements and the opponent’s defensive positioning. This is what the video calls the “Muller Pattern.” Here’s a breakdown of this pattern:

Quick Thinking and Anticipation: The video showcases instances where Muller, upon noticing a teammate with space, initiates the Muller Pattern. He makes a curving run to ensure he stays onside, giving himself just enough time to look up and deliver an accurate assist.

Two Steps Ahead: Muller is known for his exceptional positional awareness. He seems to always know where he needs to be and what he needs to do. The video provides examples where Muller, while being chased by defenders, uses his signature run to stay onside and deliver a perfect pass for a goal.

The Muller Zone: The video highlights Muller’s preference for quick passes and minimal touches. He seems to favor direct passes into a specific area on the field, which the video calls his “favorite space.” This space is typically near the offside line, where defenders hesitate to commit, giving Muller’s teammates a precious window of opportunity.

A Well-Oiled Machine with Lewandowski: The video emphasizes Muller’s incredible partnership with Robert Lewandowski. Since Lewandowski joined Bayern in 2014, over a third of Muller’s assists have been finished by the prolific striker. Their understanding and chemistry are undeniable.

Master of Positioning: The video showcases Muller’s remarkable ability to stay close to the offside line without actually being offside. This allows him to exploit any gaps in the defense the moment they appear. The video states that Muller only gets caught offside once every two games, an impressive feat for a player who constantly pushes the boundaries of the offside trap.

The Muller Pattern in Action: The video provides several examples of the Muller Pattern throughout the 2010s. Muller consistently uses this pattern to set up his teammates, making him a constant threat and a nightmare for opposing defenses.

More Than Just an Assist King: While Muller excels at providing assists, the video reminds us that he’s also a dangerous finisher himself. Only Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus have outscored Muller in Bundesliga goals over the past decade. The video shows instances where Muller makes intelligent runs into the penalty area, utilizing his perfect timing to score goals himself.

Adaptability and Maturity: The video concludes by mentioning Muller’s ability to adapt his game. He can be the creative assist provider or, when the situation demands it, he can turn into a classic poacher in the box. This adaptability and maturity have solidified his place as a Bayern and Bundesliga legend.

The video ends by posing a question to the viewers: What impresses you most about Thomas Muller? This blog post has hopefully provided some insights into what makes Muller such a special player. His unique ability to read the game, anticipate opportunities, and exploit space has made him a consistent threat for both club and country.