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- Bayern preparing for Muller farewell in final home game
Bayern preparing for Muller farewell in final home game
Thomas Muller's final Bayern Munich appearance at the Allianz Arena will come against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are preparing for an emotional final home game of the season as they bid farewell to club legend Thomas Muller.
Bayern secured their 34th German title last Sunday without kicking a ball as rivals Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw by Freiburg, leaving the leaders with an unassailable eight-point lead with two games left to play.
Although there is no sporting goal left to achieve, coach Vincent Kompany says Bayern will be ready to go when they host ninth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, in Muller's final home game before he leaves on a free transfer.
Muller first joined Bayern aged 10 and has helped them to 13 Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokal wins, eight DFL-Supercups and two Champions Leagues since his 2008 senior debut.
Kompany is determined to give Muller the send-off he deserves, saying: "This week has been like every other week. We've prepared because it's an important match for us.
"We don't have less pressure for the final two matches. We're carrying on. We want to win this game, it's Thomas Muller's last match at the Allianz Arena, it's a celebration for everyone.
"We want to experience a perfect Saturday if the preparation is good. It won't be an easy task, the opponents are good."
Last month, Muller became just the 13th player to make 500 Bundesliga appearances and the fourth to do so with all of his outings coming for a single club.
Karl-Heinz Korbel (602 games for Eintracht Frankfurt), Manfred Kaltz (581 for Hamburg) and Michael Lameck (518 for Bochum) are the only other one-club men to hit that mark.
"It will certainly be very emotional, I don't know whether more for Thomas or the people around him," Kompany added.
"These are great moments, I've experienced it myself. I know Thomas too, he's still a fighter who always wants to show what we can do. He has a very special relationship with the fans."
Muller has largely been a substitute this season and Kompany has been known for being strict when it comes to revealing his lineup prior to games.
However, when asked whether the 35-year-old would start against Gladbach, the former Manchester City defender hinted that will be the case.
"I want to stay consistent but I'm not stupid, so let's wait and see tomorrow. I don't want to spoil the party, though," Kompany said.