Mueller is ready for Chelsea

Berlin, Feb. 24: A year after being dumped by Germany head coach Joachim Loew, Thomas Mueller is set to showcase why he is so important for Bayern Munich — and Robert Lewandowski — at Chelsea in the Champions League.

Alongside Erling Braut Haaland, Bayern’s star striker Lewandowski is joint top-scorer in the Champions League with 10 goals going into the Last 16, first-leg clash on Tuesday.

In order to keep him fresh, Mueller was a second-half replacement in Friday’s 3-2 league win over bottom side Paderborn when Lewandowski netted twice.

The Poland striker is on a career-high 38 goals after 32 games in all competitions and is happiest with Mueller alongside him. “It’s easier with Thomas next to me, he helps me out a lot,” Lewandowski has said of Mueller.

“We always have one player more in the penalty area when he plays, I have more space and not always two or three opponents against me,” he added.

It’s no coincidence that Lewandowski is enjoying his highest goal tally just when Mueller’s 14 assists in Germany’s top flight also puts him near his personal best.

Alongside fellow 2014 World Cup winners Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng, Mueller was told last March he was no longer needed by Germany. —