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<p>Goal Disallowed</p>
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<img alt="'Müllermania' in Canada - Thomas Müller makes Vancouver Whitecaps debut" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/thomas-muller-1755504825-175069.jpg" title="'Müllermania' in Canada - Thomas Müller makes Vancouver Whitecaps debut" />
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<span>©IMAGO</span>
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<p>The Vancouver Whitecaps had a 1-0 advantage over the visiting Houston Dynamo in front of a crowd of 26,031 at BC Place, thanks to an early penalty scored by Brian White. Thomas Müller made his debut in the 61st minute, and moments later, the Whitecaps thought they had sealed the victory with a spectacular goal from Müller. The stadium erupted when he scored with a stunning shot from outside the box, but the celebration was cut short as the offside flag was raised, nullifying the goal. The match ended in disappointment for Müller and the Whitecaps as Artur scored late for the Dynamo, leveling the game at 1-1.</p>
<p>“I have mixed feelings,” Müller shared after the match. “The moment I scored the [disallowed] goal was incredible. The noise in the stadium and my teammates' reactions made it a great start for me. In the end, though, the result is disappointing. It was a good shot—an excellent shot, really. Sometimes you just aren't lucky, but if you follow the game, I might score a goal like that at least once a season.” This moment was meant to cap off an exciting few days for Müller, who arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday, was officially introduced to the club on Thursday, and immediately went into training, all while being followed by a personal media team and a legion of German journalists. In Munich, the media buzzed with excitement as headlines proclaimed “Müllermania in Vancouver.” Müller has achieved something unprecedented in Whitecaps history by capturing the interest of a major football city and the entire nation.</p>
<p>This level of attention on a German player outside of Europe hasn't been seen since Lothar Matthäus joined the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) in 2000. Off the pitch, his presence has already made a significant impact in Vancouver. Now, the objective is for Müller to fulfill his purpose of helping the team win the MLS Cup, the franchise's first major trophy since capturing the NASL Cup in 1979. “He has a high football IQ, which allows him to understand his positioning and which spaces to exploit,” said head coach Jesper Sørensen. “He’s only been with us for three days, and our goal is to integrate him into the team as quickly as possible. I think he's done well in the two training sessions since he arrived.”</p>
<h2>Looking Ahead to St. Louis CITY SC – Will Müller Start Next?</h2>
<p>What’s next for Müller? “He’ll have a solid week of training, and if all goes well, we could see him in the starting lineup soon—likely next Saturday, but we’ll have to see how things develop,” Sørensen indicated. There's a potential for Müller to make his first start against St. Louis CITY SC at BC Place, a match that promises to feature several familiar faces for him. The St. Louis squad includes five German players, and Müller will be up against goalkeeper Roman Bürki, with whom he’s had many battles in the Bundesliga between Bayern and Dortmund.</p>
<p>Where will Müller fit into the lineup? “He should play in a central position, potentially just behind the front line, as that would suit him best,” Sørensen explained. “There were many positive aspects in today's match that we can build upon.” Conversations with Sørensen played a significant role in Müller’s decision to join the Whitecaps, and he reaffirmed his trust in the Danish head coach. “Absolutely,” Müller replied when asked about his faith in Sørensen. “Jesper anticipated this from me.”</p>
<p>Once on the pitch, Müller began organizing the midfield, seeking gaps and looking to create opportunities. Though it didn’t result in a goal this time, the matchup against Houston served as a promising preview of what Whitecaps fans can expect in the weeks to come. “Jesper knew prior to my arrival that I naturally take on an organizing role on the pitch,” Müller mentioned. “When I’m on the field, I not only focus on my positioning but also communicate with my teammates to adapt and enhance our play whenever I see a chance. That will never change, regardless of whether it’s my first game or not.” Müller’s debut may not have included a goal, but fans can be assured that they’ll see him finding the back of the net soon.</p>
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