Thomas Müller made an immediate impact after joining the Vancouver Whitecaps midway through last season, and former MLS standout Brek Shea believes the Bayern Munich legend deserves plenty of credit for what the Canadian club accomplished.
Shea, a former United States international who played for several MLS clubs, including Inter Miami, offered glowing praise for Müller's influence on and off the pitch. While Vancouver ultimately fell short of winning the MLS Cup, Shea believes the Whitecaps had done enough to deserve a better fate against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
"I mean, look, he came in last year halfway through the season, took them to the cup. They should have won the cup, actually. I mean, they were dominating Inter Miami for 75 minutes, they just couldn't score. And that's the problem when you have Messi on the other side — it doesn't take much for him to create something," Shea told Jackpot City Casino .
Beyond Müller's performances, Shea was particularly impressed by the German's football intelligence, leadership, and ability to bring a team together in a short period.
"I'm a big fan of him. Again, someone who looks like they care so much about the game and they play with their head, not their body. You know, he's very smart in his movements and calculated, and it's fun to watch," Shea said.
Müller's influence extended beyond his contributions on the field. Shea pointed to the camaraderie that developed within Vancouver's squad, highlighting the German's relationship with head coach Jesper Sørensen and his teammates.
Shea also recalled watching the Whitecaps repeatedly overcome late deficits, including victories over Orlando City and San Diego FC. For him, those comebacks demonstrated how quickly Müller helped establish a winning mentality.
"He came in again, from the outside looking like an equal and wanted these guys to be good and have success together. It's not my success, it's our success. So I really enjoyed that," Shea said.
That approach is hardly surprising for anyone familiar with Müller's career at Bayern. The 2014 World Cup winner built his reputation on intelligent movement, a relentless work rate, and an ability to make teammates better, rather than relying solely on physical attributes or individual brilliance.
Shea was less certain about whether Müller's arrival had significantly increased soccer's popularity in Canada. However, he welcomed the continued growth of the sport across North America, noting that success for Canada and Mexico could ultimately benefit the United States, too.
"The better they get, hopefully the better we get. And the better Mexico gets, the better we get. So I'm all for it and just a fan of the sport," Shea said.
For Vancouver, Müller's arrival represented more than the addition of a decorated European star. According to Shea, it brought a collective mentality that helped transform the Whitecaps into a team capable of competing for the biggest prize in MLS.
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