Thomas Muller certainly didn’t hold back after Bayern Munich‘s 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
The Munich-born and bred legend had to watch his team’s Bundesliga hopes fade in stunning fashion as Leverkusen completely played them off the park.
Leverkusen are now five points clear at the top of the table, and Muller says his teammates only have themselves to blame.
“To be honest, I’m also pissed off,” he said. “Of course, you first have to congratulate Bayer Leverkusen. An absolutely deserved victory.
“What I miss is, and that’s why I say it publicly: we show a much better approach in training. Because we are brave. Because we play football freely there. I’m missing that, and now we can quote our Oliver Kahn, some of the balls and this freedom.
“We have a mentality in our game. Especially with the ball. When you see Leverkusen, not every move is planned. When Grimaldo appears on the right wing, even though he is a left-back. They just gamble, they play football. They are looking for solutions.
“This is where someone comes in handy when they notice: Oh, the room is closed – then they pull up two meters. We do that too, but not in the game when the pressure is there.
“I always expect that from our team and from FC Bayern! From us players who are on the pitch. You can feel the pressure, but it has to give you energy.
“We started quite well for ten minutes, but we don’t understand that when things are tough and maybe it’s a waiting game: bring the ball into the opponent’s half more often! Play a long ball! As far as I’m concerned, just out of bounds back here (turns around and points to the touchline, editor’s note).
“Then there is a throw-in, we can deliver it. We play from A to B, from B to C – and nobody has the freedom to just play.
“I’m trying to explain what I’m missing in our game. And if it’s there in training and the coach addresses these gaps, then we have to tackle the players too.
“And today we weren’t there. We lost 3-0. There were enough players on the pitch – of international calibre. And that’s why you don’t even need to go to the coach.”
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