Bayern Munich have been managing Thomas Muller’s minutes given their Champions League commitments. Against Union Berlin, they rested him and had to settle for a draw. Against Stuttgart, they substituted him and suffered a late equaliser. Julian Nagelsmann has the best squad in the Bundesliga so rotation makes sense but it is fascinating that Muller’s absence is still felt. Without him, runs are made either too late or too early. Those half-spaces where he does his best work are often left vacant.

As Muller turns 33, that is some achievement at one of the world’s biggest clubs. Twelve years have passed since Louis van Gaal shared his famous selection maxim that ‘Muller always plays’ and, in the very biggest of games at least, that remains true. Jurgen Klinsmann has tracked the journey longer than that. He gave him his Bayern debut in 2008. He said Thomas Muller is a very, very special player when asked to sum up a man who has made over 600 more appearances for the club since that first one. (more…)