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Thomas Müller is 'really close' with his Vancouver Whitecaps teammates on and off the pitch

Har Johal
Har Johal
|
Dec 3 2025, 5:57 pm
Thomas Müller is 'really close' with his Vancouver Whitecaps teammates on and off the pitch
Abe Arredondo/Imagn Images

The Vancouver Whitecaps depart for Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday as they prepare to take on Inter Miami in the MLS Cup Final on Saturday. 

Over 16,500 tickets have been sold for what should be a raucous watch party at BC Place. The match will air on TSN and Apple TV in Canada, with the match beginning at 11:30 a.m. PST.

It’s been a historic year for the Whitecaps, from having four MLS All-Stars to adding superstar Thomas Müller to slaying the LAFC dragon.

But there’s more work to be done.

“He’s a great guy off the field”

It’s rare that an icon with the stature that Müller has adapts to a new team, league, and country, and has the impact on and off the pitch that Müller has shown. He has fit into the Whitecaps family and acclimated himself to Vancouver as if he has been here for years. 

“He’s a great guy,” Tristan Blackmon told Daily Hive. “He has so much experience, such a huge leader for us, and that’s trickled down into players since he’s been here. He’s had an extremely good effect on the players, club, and city, so hopefully we can keep that going.”

Whether it’s organizing team get-togethers, being active in the players’ group chat, or giving directions on the pitch during matches, Müller has shown that he’s all-in. 

“He enjoys himself,” Blackmon added. “He’s been around long enough; he knows what he can do to help push the group. He’s done such a good job of doing that. He’s a great guy off the field as well. Really close with all the guys already, and that shows on the field.”

The 36-year-old German superstar departed the Whitecaps’ 3-1 win over San Diego in the 61st minute and had his right calf wrapped post-match. Müller was in good spirits during the Whitecaps’ session on Tuesday while he rode the stationary bike and did some work in the gym. 

“He should be ready to go,” Jesper Sørensen told reporters. “It’s late in the season, it’s normal that people have something here and there. Thomas has done well, even though he had some minor things.

“He should be ready to go and will bring everything we have.”

Cubas vs. Messi

Andres Cubas was a thorn in the side of Lionel Messi when the Whitecaps and Inter Miami met during the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year. The Paraguayan international has shown the ability to frustrate and get under the skin of Messi, as the two exchanged pleasantries back in April.  

“We had some words,” Cubas told Daily Hive via translator. “It’s things about the game, things that happen in the moment. Nothing that doesn’t happen in football regularly. Hopefully it’s a good game, and we can do it in a nice manner, without having to get all intense and go through pressure situations.” 

While Messi does have an assist, he has never scored a goal against the Whitecaps. Few players have been able to keep Messi in check, why has Cubas been so successful?

“I always try to play with intensity,” Cubas said. “To always be close to the action, making sure I’m doing my job in midfield. Hopefully in this game, we can be the same as we have been all year, and we can neutralize not just Messi but all the great players Miami have.” 

Fast start

Vancouver will be playing a different Miami team than they saw earlier this year, with the additions of midfielder Rodrigo De Paul and teenage striker Mateo Silvetti. Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has more attacking options, and that’s forced Luis Suarez into a bench role waiting for a bite of the action. 

Can the Whitecaps attack and bury Miami as they did with San Diego?

“I think that’s going to be difficult,” Sørensen said. “But we will definitely play the way we would like to play. We have a plan for how we would like to do it. Let’s see how well we can execute it.” 

Suspended for the last match, MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon was on edge before the Whitecaps defeated San Diego, but his nerves were eased when his teammates came out flying.

“We’re playing our best games when we’re on the front foot off the bat,” Blackmon said. “I don’t think that’s going to change in this game.” 

Ryan Gauld is well aware of the threat that Miami poses. A sliver of grass is all Miami needs to create and take advantage of a scoring opportunity. The Whitecaps captain knows that every second counts, and Miami isn’t to be taken lightly at any stage of the match. 

“The threat that they bring is obvious with the individuals that they’ve got,” Gauld told reporters. “They can make a piece of magic out of nothing. They’re not the kind of players you can keep quiet for 89 minutes, and then they just spark into life. It’s going to be about being switched on doing our job for the 90 or 120 minutes, whatever it is.”

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