Thomas Muller has revealed that former Bayern Munich manager Louis van Gaal hashad the biggest influence on his career so far.
Despitea somewhat unsuccessful spell in the Premier League with Manchester United, and a third placed finish in his final season with Bayern, Muller believes the Dutchman helped him become the player he is now.
When we talk my biggest influence I have to say Van Gaal,� Muller toldGoal. He threw me in the deep end.
{ #BallondOr } Nominé pour le Ballon d'or : Thomas Muller !#Bayern pic.twitter.com/w7MtaB2kjw
I made my debut before he arrived, but he was the one who relied on me more continually.
For players during our active career, it is always difficult to talk about coaches “ whether it is former or a current. It is difficult to say for a player who was the better coach. But I would say that my biggest influence was Louis van Gaal, because I was at the best age to be influenced.�
Muller also backed current boss Carlo Ancelotti to turn around a recent slump in form. Bayern have gone three games without a win, an unprecedentedly poor run for the hugely successful group of players at the club.
We have not won for three games in a row now,� he added. That's a situation at Bayern that does not happen too often and that should not happen too often.
"That's why we are currently looking for the what, why and the how. We talk a lot. But you have to understand we cannot discuss these details in public “ otherwise we would kill each other in front of the cameras.
Ancelotti can be very uncompromising and loud, which is the right thing to do if you have the impression that determination and drive is lacking. Basically he's not the one to yell at you for no reason, when the result is bad.
He's focusing on things to build up your confidence again instead of yelling at you. I can confirm that. It's the right thing to do, I think.�