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Germany manager Flick: Muller 'gives you more joy than headaches'
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Hansi Flick, manager of the German national football team. /CFP

Hansi Flick, manager of the German national football team. /CFP

Hansi Flick, the new manager of Germany, has told Bild that Thomas Muller still has an important part to play for the national team.

Flick coached Bayern Munich for two seasons during which Muller was an integral part of the team. Scoring 29 goals and 50 assists in 96 appearances was very impressive, but it wasn't the most important role Muller played for Flick's team.

"I don't know if there is a specific position for Thomas, it feels like he runs all over the place in the game. He's a player that gives you more joy than headaches," said Flick.

Thomas Muller of Byaern Munich dribbles in the Bundesliga game against 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, August 22, 2021. /CFP

Thomas Muller of Byaern Munich dribbles in the Bundesliga game against 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, August 22, 2021. /CFP

Flick's first major event as manager of the national team will be the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, and he's expecting Muller to play a key role. 

"He's a player who is enormously important for any coach because he knows what to do, how to build the team. That's why he's an important factor," Flick told Bild.

Of course, Muller is not the only attacker Germany can call on. There are Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, and of course, Leroy Sane.

Bayern paid 49 million euros (about $57.8 million) in 2020 summer to land Sane from Manchester City, expecting him to carry the team's offense from the right wing. However, it did not work so well last season in which Sane had 10 goals and 12 assists in 44 games.

That's where rumors of Sane and Flick falling out came from. The 56-year-old manager denied those rumors in the interview, saying "there are no grudges held at all" between him and Sane.

Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich runs with the ball in the Bundesliga game against Hertha BSC at Allianz Arena, August 28, 2021. /CFP

Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich runs with the ball in the Bundesliga game against Hertha BSC at Allianz Arena, August 28, 2021. /CFP

"When you're a coach, you have to make decisions. I always told Leroy about the decisions I made back then and he understood them. There are no grudges held at all. On the contrary, we appreciate each other very much," Flick told Bild.

Sane suffered a serious injury at Manchester City before joining Bayern. That affected his form in his first season with Die Roten (The Reds). He is much healthier now and more comfortable on the left wing under manager Julian Nagelsmann. Sane already has one goal and two assists to his name this season in two Bundesliga games.

"He was injured for a long time and now we all know that you need a certain amount of time to get back to that level and he has the support at FC Bayern and from us," said Flick.

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