Thomas Muller just smiled when asked what it felt like to be cast as the “villain” before Saturday’s MLS Cup final between his Vancouver Whitecaps side and Inter Miami.
In a match against a team containing Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, the German could have politely mentioned an 8-2 success in his favour the last time all five were on the pitch at the same time.
That came in a remarkable Champions League quarter-final in 2020 when Muller scored twice as Bayern Munich humiliated Barcelona in Lisbon.
Or when discussing Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, the forward might have brought up the 2014 World Cup final, when Muller’s Germany edged past Argentina – featuring midfielder Mascherano and Messi – through Mario Gotze’s injury-time goal.
But that is not Muller’s way.
Now 36, one of the most decorated players of his generation likes to smile.
It seemed his favourite question in a 15-minute media appearance alongside Whitecaps team-mate Sebastian Berhalter centred around the effect of home advantage for Inter Miami.
Of the past 14 finals, when home advantage has gone to the team placed highest in the overall rankings in a competition split into an Eastern and Western Conference, 11 of the hosts have been winners.
“What are our chances to win?” interjected Muller after Berhalter had reeled off the standard answer about concentrating on the game and not the venue.
“10%? 20? Or less?” he continued. “But there is a chance?”
When the answer came back as a yes, Muller beamed: “I am glad to hear that.”
He knows a thing or two about finals. With Bayern, he won 10, including two Champions Leagues and two Club World Cups. He also lost four.
In addition to the World Cup final success and the quarter-final humiliation of Barcelona in Portugal just over five years ago, Muller was also part of the Bayern side that beat Messi’s men in the Champions League semi-finals on their way to lifting the trophy in 2013.
By his own admission, he noted even Major League Soccer are trying to make this final a showdown between him and the 38-year-old Messi.
It is not a narrative he was keen to talk about.
“I know for you guys in the media and also MLS, it makes sense to make a point with Messi and myself and the bigger names, but it is about two teams with a very attractive and good-looking playing style,” he said.
“It’s always nice to meet old friends. We are not really close, but I always watched them. They were great players – some of them still are.”
It was another example of Muller’s humorous side, although he was deadly serious when it came to an assessment of the task ahead.
“When I look back, I feel very comfortable because it is already in the books,” he said.
“I had a lot of great experiences with my teams in these games. It was fun, but it doesn’t really matter for Saturday.
“I don’t need my history that much to be confident.”
