Thomas Müller says he wants to help the city of Vancouver get out of the habit of accepting defeat—something he’s not accustomed to doing after a storied career with Bayern Munich.
On Wednesday, Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC face Canadian Premier League side Vancouver FC for the first time, with the Canadian Championship on the line.
The Whitecaps are massive favorites, sitting fifth in MLS, and seeking their fourth-straight Voyageurs Cup. Meanwhile, Vancouver FC are the last-place team in the CPL and have only won four of 25 regular-season matches.
“When I came here, I talked to some people and they said we’re never winning anything,” Müller said, with the Whitecaps not having any MLS-era trophies outside the Canadian Championship. “When the Whitecaps are not winning, the [NHL’s] Vancouver Canucks are not winning, I got the feeling that Vancouver people, they accept not winning…I’m not used to that, and I want to change it a little bit.”
“We want to win every game. That's the mentality of our boys, also of the coaching staff, and we want to show this mentality also to our fans, to the crowds, to the city.”
With a victory, the Whitecaps would not only claim their first title of the 2025 season, after falling short in the Concacaf Champions Cup final, but Müller would also surpass Toni Kroos as the most decorated German player, with a 35th major trophy.
“I’m not playing for titles, I’m playing for the competition,” the six-time DFB Pokal champion added.
“You want to [win] to present your fans and the crowds some silverware and to have a party, but I’m not focused on making history. I’m focused on having this winning feeling, having this feeling that we are strong and we progress as a team and enjoy the game of football together. “
