Bayern Munich great Lothar Matthaus has blamed Carlo Ancelotti for Thomas Muller s ongoing malaise.
Germany forward Muller was named on the bench for the Bundesliga champions 2-0 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday, coming on in the 73rd minute after Robert Lewandowski netted the first of a second-half brace.
The 27-year-old told ARD after the match that his qualities seem not to be 100 per cent in demand under Ancelotti, who praised his cameo but explained a desire to control central areas while retaining the dual wing threat of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery lay behind Muller s omission.
Matthaus feels a more rigid team structure under Ancelotti is hindering Muller, who only scored five Bundesliga goals last term having hit 32 in all competitions under Pep Guardiola in 2015-16.
Thomas Muller is first-choice for the national team but he s having a hard time at Bayern, Matthaus told Kicker.
He s selected less often in the important games in Munich and I am sceptical that this will improve this year.
This has nothing to do with Muller. He needs a coach who wants him in his team, then Muller will not disappoint.
Muller isn t a number seven, a number nine nor a number 10. He is everything and in between. But Carlo Ancelotti thinks and selects his team very strictly according to a player s position.
Muller is part of Germany s squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Norway, while Bayern travel to Hoffenheim on their return to Bundesliga action on September 9.
