World-class Muller is impossible to plan for, says McGhee

MARK McGHEE admits the Scotland coaching staff face a Herculean task to devise a plan to curb Germany spearhead Thomas Muller, a player he rates as good as any he has seen in the flesh.

Muller was the singular reason that Scotland failed to take anything from the opening fixture in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, putting his country in front and later breaking Scottish hearts with the winner just four minutes after Ikechi Anya’s slotted finish had sparked the dream of a result against the world champions.

The game served as Germany’s first competitive outing since lifting the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro and, while there was an obvious dip in the overall level of performance from Joachim Low’s team, Muller was an all-action exception.

One of McGhee’s tasks in his role as assistant to national coach Gordon Strachan is to keep an

up-to-date dossier on the opposition but he has not had to scour hard for the figure he believes will pose the greatest danger in tomorrow night’s tie.

‘Germany have world-class players and Muller is as good a player as I’ve seen up close,’ said McGhee. ‘Each time he plays, regardless of the opposition, he knows he can get goals. He sees every game as an opportunity, so he remains a huge threat to us.

‘He’s a hard guy to plan for. That night in Dortmund, he was so difficult to mark. If he went into an area where you felt someone should go, they’re good enough to find the space behind him.

‘If you then stay and mark the full-back or the space, he then gets the ball and you’re in trouble. His timing, his movement, his awareness, that’s what makes him world class.’

A one-club man who has served Bayern Munich throughout his career, Muller carries the supreme self-confidence that is the trademark of the German champions.

Having played for Hamburg in the mid-80s, McGhee knows all about the German psyche and he judges Muller to be the perfect example of a driven team player.

He continued: ‘Arrogance isn’t a word I’d use for Muller. For me, he’s confident. I think it was (Bill) Shankly who said that over-confidence is arrogance, but I don’t get that from him.

‘I just think he’s so in the zone. He’s a great player, a great player for Germany, and he feels his responsibility every time he pulls on the jersey.’