Look out for Mueller bite
Hibs’ American star experienced playing in Windy City, so Arbroath’s North Sea gusts won’t faze him...
CHRIS MUELLER once played in the Windy City of Chicago but as he heads to Gayfield, one suspects he hasn’t seen, or felt, anything yet. The Hibs midfielder has been warned of the North Sea gusts that blow in to Arbroath’s home stadium, and the conditions are only a small element of the dangers present in today’s Scottish Cup tie.
Dick Campbell’s part-timers are the unlikely Championship leaders and specialise in punching above their weight — but Mueller hasn’t come all this way to shirk a challenge.
A stint at Chicago United provided the grounding that allowed the winger to graduate to Orlando FC in the MLS.
As he prepared and waited for his big move to Europe, the Illinoisan found time along the way to write a book on positive thinking.
Bet on Yourself, published last month, channels the 25-year-old’s positive mental attitude, something that has been a useful and necessary tool since he checked in at Easter Road in January.
Thus far, Mueller has been on the winning side just once in six appearances for Hibs, and even that required a slog through extra-time to defeat Cove Rangers on his debut in the previous round of the cup.
‘I think this is the most important time to have that sort of mindset,’ he says. ‘You need to believe that it can all change in one moment.
‘When you’re on top, something can happen and take you straight to the bottom. When you’re down low, something can happen and take you back to the top.
‘It’s not easy right now when we’re having a run like this but, ultimately, it’s the most important time to have a positive mindset.
‘It’s easy to be like that when things are going your way, when you’re scoring three or four goals every week.
‘Right now, it has been a challenge for us. In order for us to stick together, you have to maintain that mindset inside the locker room.
‘I try to bring it every day. Obviously, it sucks not to win every game and to be on a tough run of results but what matters is the next game. That’s all we have control over right now.’
While he has not yet committed his words to text, Arbroath’s charismatic boss Dick Campbell would doubtless agree with much of Mueller’s philosophy.
Yet, in terms of style, the Arbroath’s manager’s ideology could scarcely be further removed from that of today’s counterpart Shaun Maloney.
While Maloney speaks of expanding Hibs’ style and favours a plan that sees his team build patiently from the back, Arbroath are much more direct.
A voracious work ethic is the bedrock of The Lichties’ success, a relentless commitment to run and pull together for every loose ball, of which there are plenty at their blowy home ground.
‘I’ve heard it’s not the easiest place to go and play,’ adds Mueller. ‘So I think it’s really important that we don’t underestimate Arbroath and make sure we go in with the full commitment.
‘It’s like any other game. It’s really important for us to take our chances and not take it lightly at all.
‘I haven’t been there but I’ve heard it can get quite windy, so you have to play the conditions but it will the same for both teams. The
most important thing for us will be the result. I’m not going to shy away from any match, I’m excited for all of them.
‘Whatever comes my way, wherever we need to go to play, I’m up for it all. I fully embrace it, however hostile the environment, or the pitch.
‘It will all be a new experience for me but the whole thing has been a challenge for me in that sense. But I am fully committed to it and ready for whatever comes.’
Mueller had plenty time to prepare for his move to Scotland, having committed to the deal back in July 2021, when Jack Ross was manager of the Edinburgh club.
The intervening months gave the American time to absorb some club history and familiarise himself with what has been a dysfunctional relationship with the Scottish Cup.
The win of 2016 ended more than a century without lifting the trophy and Mueller has tried to contextualise the significance of the competition.
‘I looked into that a lot and saw a lot of videos on it,’ he continues. ‘I have seen how much it meant to people and experienced it first hand.
‘I understand that it is a big event for us and that if we can challenge it will mean so much.
‘People really want to win it and it is an opportunity to add a trophy, so we have to look at it that way.
‘But we won’t get there unless we take care of the games right now.’
Mueller also reckons he has an insight into how Arbroath will be approaching this one, how eager
Campbell and his players will be to claim a Premiership scalp.
‘The cups are a bit different in the States. We play the Open Cup which is probably the equivalent to the Scottish Cup, where you play teams from different divisions, who are regarded as the underdog.
‘It can be a real challenge and you need to be up for it mentally.
‘You need to try and put yourself in the perspective of the other team that it is coming into a game where it means everything to them.
‘I’ve been in that position when I was in college and playing for the Des Moines Menace.
‘We ended up playing an USL team and it was a huge deal for us — we treated the game it was like it life and death.
‘Unfortunately, we lost that game but we put up a good fight.
‘You can sort of get that feel going into a tie like this. These are the most challenging games and you need to make sure you take them as seriously as you can.’
Mueller’s mindset has become something of a talking point in the Easter Road dressing-room but firm as his convictions are, he is not one for being preachy.
He explains: ‘My team-mates definitely think my positivity is a bit different.
‘I think that’s good — to challenge people a little bit and help them step out of their comfort zones.
‘If they want to read my book, great, I’ll give them a copy. If not, then it’s no sweat off my back either. I’ve given out a few.
‘I have evolved a lot, even since I wrote that book.
‘The mental side of the game is arguably more important than the physical side.
‘It is a roller-coaster of highs and lows and ups and downs. You can be affected by that, especially with all that goes on in the media and how you much you are under a spotlight.
‘It can be really challenging and extremely difficult just to maintain your own mental state of health, your own happiness and joy every day.
‘We can invest a lot more in it as well because when people are in their best state of mind, are feeling positive and in flow with themselves, you are going to get the best out of them on the pitch. That’s just a reality.’
I’ve heard it’s not the easiest place to go, so we must be focused