Thomas Müller takes to instagram to appeal for perfect Champions League farewell | OneFootball

In his first social media video post since the blockbuster news of his departure from Bayern Munich, German footballing legend Thomas Müller took to instagram on Monday afternoon. Müller published a letter addressed to all German football lovers on Saturday. Looking a bit haggard and not entirely capable of suppressing his emotions, the 35-year-old posted a self-filmed video from the Säbener Straße training pitch.

Müller made no effort to hide the fact that – as FCB board-member-for-sport Max Eberl noted on Sunday – he wasn’t in agreement with Bayern’s decision not to renew with him. In typical “Müller fashion”, the message was broken up into three orderly parts. First, Müller conveyed appreciation to his fans. Next, he sought to emphasise that tomorrow’s Champions League fixture was all that mattered. Finally, he addressed the rift with the club.

Müller noted that the “Finale Dahaom” (The Bavarian dialect reference to the 2024/25 UCL Final set to be hosted at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31st) was all that really mattered. The German giants must first progress past Inter Milan in the quarterfinals and emerge victorious from the semis before getting there. Bayern lost their last UCL “Finale Dahaom” against Chelsea on May 19th, 2012.

Müller started and scored in that famous heartbreaking match, which Chelsea ultimately won on penalties. Prior to last season, the 2011/12 cycle was also the last time Bayern failed to win a trophy. The record champions finished second in the league behind Borussia Dortmund that year and also failed against Jürgen Klopp’s BVB in the cup.

Müller obviously hopes for a much better outcome this time. Though he didn’t specifically say so, one could tell that the legend felt victory in the forthcoming “Finale Dahaom” would constitute the perfect farewell.

“Hi everyone,” Müller began. “Now that the dust has settled a bit, I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Thanks for all of the appreciation that you’ve shown me not only over the last 17 years, but also the last few days. It means a lot to me.

“I’m glad that what I’ve been able to bring to the football pitch and around the game made you a bit happy,” Müller continued. “Thanks a lot. But what’s going on now – and this is the far more important point – is our [home Champions League] match tomorrow against Inter Milan.

“We’ve really got to get on course for the Final [set to be hosted at the Allianz Arena]” Müller went on. “That’s all that really matters. That’s what I’m focusing on as a player. That’s what we’re focusing on as a team. I think that’s what you Bayern fans need and we’re all on the same page.

“And then there’s the third point,” Müller continued as he wrapped up. “There’s all that’s been written and all the public statements from the club. No need to smear the club. There are no hard feelings and we’re all looking ahead. We’re all on the same page.

“One doesn’t have to agree on everything in life in order to pull in the same direction,” Müller concluded. “We have common goals and interests. We can look each other in the eye and then look towards the future.“

GGFN | Peter Weis