Bayern Munich legend and Vancouver Whitecaps attacker Thomas Müller is having the time of his life. At the age of 37, Müller recently signed a contract extension with the Whitecaps, gearing up for another season of playing in Canada. He was crucial in leading the team to the top of the Western Conference, proving that his age is certainly not slowing him down.
In a recent episode of the Late Run podcast, the Raumdeuter discussed slowing down in football with host Chad “Ocho” Johnson. Ocho recounted
that as an NFL rookie, he felt everything was moving quickly, but further down his career, he felt it all slow down despite the actual pace of the game remaining the same. In essence, while the game moves at the same speed, a deeper understanding results in players taking it slower and bringing more deliberation to their play.
Müller revealed he, too, identified the process of the game slowing down a little too late for his liking. “I had a problem with that because I can almost name the point when I understood it better—but by then it was almost too late. Not too late to have a good career, obviously, but when I understood the game better, my body was already getting slower,” he described.
“I would have loved to have had that knowledge and understanding of the game when I was still in my early twenties,” he mused.
Ocho reassured him that he had an excellent career in his twenties—perhaps referencing the fact that Müller’s game intelligence was already far ahead of most players.
“Yeah, I know. They went well. But I know exactly what you mean. The game slows down because you understand it better,” the attacker responded.
“You have so many good coaches on the way up, they explain things to you, and you keep learning more and more. I didn’t have that understanding when I started as a young professional,” he went on. Further, he concluded that the game only really clicked for him at around the age of 30.
Next, the host asked him about dealing with doubts, stating that many people might need to hear that even the best athletes deal with doubts.
“You can doubt your performance, but you shouldn’t doubt your base. You shouldn’t doubt the human being you are or the competitor you are,” Müller emphasized.
He went on to state that competition in itself lies in the process of finding a way out, a way to win.
“If you’re not sure you’re going to win, that’s actually the fun part of competition. If it’s already clear that you’re the man and you’re going to seal the deal, what’s the point of trying? That’s boring.”
“Competition with your teammates is part of the deal too, and that’s enjoyable,” he added.
Discussing doubts as a young footballer further, he emphasized that competition and doubt are the most enjoyable parts of the ride.
“You ride a roller coaster of emotions. When you’re young, you have to find your spot and earn your spot. Even if you have an impressive breakthrough season, you’re still unsure whether you can repeat it. That’s part of competition. You compete with your teammates. You compete against opponents. And riding that roller coaster of emotions is part of what makes competition enjoyable,” he declared.
Müller’s words certainly reflect his years of experience and the wisdom that comes along with a career as illustrious as his.g with a career as illustrious as his.
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