Thomas Muller has come out swinging in defence of Vincent Kompany after the Bayern Munich boss was accused of ‘humiliating’ the German great against Celtic.
Legendary Muller has won a record 24 trophies, including 12 Bundesliga titles, with the most successful club in Germany. However, the 35-year-old has been reduced to a fringe player this season, only playing a bit-part role since Kompany took charge in the summer. The World Cup-winning icon was sent on for the final three minutes in Bayern’s 2-1 victory at Celtic Park before getting just a 24-second cameo in the home leg as the Champions League hopefuls nicked a 94th-minute equaliser to sneak into the last 16 by 3-2 on aggregate.
That enraged Germany’s all-time record cap holder and outspoken TV pundit Lothar Matthaus, who blasted: “This was humiliating. It made me sad and I felt sorry for Thomas. I was shocked.” But addressing the controversy for the first time, Muller backed his under-fire manager and insisted he has no issues with the Belgian.
Speaking after the Bundesliga leaders thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 on Sunday night, he said: “Of course, you have to say that there are different types of players. And maybe it was the same in the past when you were used to waste time, and for some it felt like a humiliation. But I have a very good relationship with the coach and I have not felt that way at all. If I’m needed, then I’m there. We’re all here at FC Bayern in the squad to put ourselves at the service of the club.”
Muller – who failed to touch the ball in last week’s draw – smiled as he added: “Of course he could have brought me in much earlier. The coach decides and he decides with the best of his knowledge and conscience. We have to keep recommending ourselves. So a little more was made of it, everything is okay.”