After the fanfare of his official unveiling, Thomas Müller hit the training pitch for the first time as a Vancouver Whitecaps FC player, participating in full sessions amid a torrential downpour on Canada’s west coast.
While the Friday and Saturday sessions were not the most gruelling, given the looming match against Houston Dynamo FC on Sunday, it allowed Müller a chance to meet his teammates for the first time, and get back into rhythm following days of travel and introductions.
“There’s a good energy in the team. You can feel it on the pitch that the group is together, they enjoy to improve,” Müller said after the session. “Normal group of very good football players enjoying training sessions. Even if the Vancouver weather kicks in today.”
The Whitecaps, who entered the weekend sitting second in the Western Conference, also announced that Sunday’s match had sold out its available ticket allotment.
However, there has been little indication from Müller or Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen on how much the 13-time Bundesliga champion could be involved, having last played a competitive match with Bayern Munich at the FIFA Club World Cup in July.
“He will be in the squad, he will be on the pitch” Sørensen said. “For how long, we’re going to find out, but it’s not [about] making stupid things here. Everybody’s excited, but we also have to be aware that we have to do the right thing.”
While the stadium will be packed in Vancouver, the match will also see the Whitecaps without some of their most important regular pieces, as leading scorer Brian White remains questionable after picking up an injury, and star midfielder Ryan Gauld remains sidelined.
Even with the injuries, there will be plenty of eyes on the match, with the potential of Muller stepping into a club match for the first time not wearing a Bayern Munich kit.
“We have not only good players, they’re very good people as well,” Müller added. “I’m looking forward to getting something new, something fresh I [haven’t] experienced yet.”
