Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti insists Thomas Muller's future lies with the Bundesliga Champions, despite the star underperforming in his new formation.
Ancelotti, who joined the club in 2015, has stated he has `no concerns at all' over Muller's form and dismissed criticism he has used the German out of position, according to ESPN FC.
Since the arrival of the Italian coach, Muller has struggled to adapt into Ancelotti's preferred formation. It has made a dramatic impact on his recent performances, scoring just once in 13 appearances this season.
Ancelotti shared his thoughts on the position of 27-year-old Muller in the side:
"I have no concerns at all,� he said. "He's a winner. He has an inner serenity, he never gets depressed. He's hugely positive and secure in what he does, and he can laugh at himself too.
"Well, I'm not stupid. I can see that he's not a winger and that he can't play out wide the way Arjen Robben or Douglas Costa play wide, and I'm not going to ask him to try to imitate Robben.
"What he can do from a wide position is use his intelligence to find the right positions on the pitch at the right time, starting from out wide, and that creates mismatches and helps the team."
However, despite the Germans lack of form, Ancelotti praised theattacking forward but announced he is better suited playing in behind the striker:
He's atypical because he's a great forward with an unorthodox skill set. We expect great forwards to be outstanding in terms of athleticism, technique or creativity. Those aren't his strengths. Instead, his strength is tactical, in that ability to read the game, to fill the right space at the right time.
You don't associate that kind of intelligence and tactical awareness with attacking players, certainly not at his level, which is simply exceptional. You do find it sometimes in defenders or midfielders. But for a forward, it's hugely rare."
The German International made it clear he didn't want to speak to reporters about his future career :
Thomas Muller didn't want to do any interviews so he pretended that he was on the phone with his passport.  pic.twitter.com/TALLiCK40J