Lisa Müller: So now it's enough! Thomas has to go back to the field!

Lisa Müller: So now it's enough! Thomas has to go back to the field!

In a new documentary entitled "Thomas Müller - one like none", German football star Thomas Müller opens his heart and reflects on one of the most formative defeats of his career. The focus is on the revision of the lost Champions League final in 2012 against Chelsea, which went into history as * drama Dahoam *. In this game, which took place in the Olympic Stadium in Munich, the Bayern star was given the opportunity to put his team in the lead before the end before the fate in a dramatic penalty shootout in favor of the English. Chelsea secured the first Champions League title with a narrow 4: 3 in a penalty shootout, which deeply disappointed Bayern and their fans. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge described the result as the greatest disappointment in the club's history. The final took place as an emotional nightmare, which left deep traces for many players, including Müller. Tom, after the bitter defeat, felt himself a "stump and deaf" while his mother was crying and he had to struggle with the consequences of the failed title mission, as he performed in the documentary.

The role of his wife, Lisa Müller, who reminded him of his strengths in this difficult time is particularly concise. In the documentary, Thomas reports that Lisa was talking directly into the conscience: "'So, now we have complained enough, now you get your ass up again.'" This clear announcement fell after he had scored a goal in the 83rd minute, which initially provided hope. However, the compensation by Chelsea and the subsequent penalty shootout changed everything. The drama of this game is not only the sporting context, but also the mental and emotional influence on Müller, which his wife wants to support as a "perfect match partner", especially in such crisis situations, which she also emphasizes in the documentary. Here you can see how important the mental constitution is for the performance of an athlete.

A look at sports psychology

The case of Thomas Müller once again throws a light on the challenges with which athletes are faced with their mental health. According to the current discussion about the role of sports psychology in German football, there are significant deficits in the proactive care of athletes. Prof. Dr. René Paasch and Prof. Dr. Oliver Stoll points out that only 10% of the clubs have in the first three league access to a sports psychologist. This support is often only sporadic or on an hourly basis. Many clubs are not ready to invest in the mental health of their players, which can have a negative impact on their performance.
A manager from the first league formulated it drastically: he would rather buy a player than to set a sports psychologist. The challenge of promoting the psychological strength of the players requires a rethink in the sports organization.

Especially according to emotional low points, as Thomas Müller experienced, comprehensive support is crucial. Dr. Hans-Dieter Hermann therefore calls for a paradigm shift in sports psychological care, which takes more attention to the mental, emotional and social health of athletes. This could not only prevent athletes and Müller from fighting for longer, but also helping to increase the entire performance of German football.

The documentary "one like none" is considered by many than just a look back at Müller's career; It is also a call for reflection on the support that athletes need in critical moments. Pointers such as emotional stability have so far been underestimated in German football, and it is to be hoped that the stories of these great players will lead to a change.