Football: Thomas Muller unhappy with bit-part Bayern Munich role

Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller is substituted for Kingsley Coman during the DFL-Supercup Final on Aug 5, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS

BERLIN (REUTERS) - Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller vented his frustration at only being a substitute on Saturday despite the German champions' 2-0 victory at Werder Bremen, which kept them on maximum points from two Bundesliga matches.

The 27-year-old Germany international, who has played 259 league games for the Bavarians after having coming through their youth squads, lost his automatic starting spot under coach Carlo Ancelotti last season.

On Saturday he came on as a 73rd-minute substitute, replacing Franck Ribery after Thiago Alcantara had taken over his starting spot for the game.

"Well, I don't really know what the qualities are that the coach wants to see," Muller told reporters. "Obviously mine do not seem to be in 100 per cent demand."

A little later, he tried to play down his reaction at a club where public dissent is unusual, saying his comments had come straight after the end of the game.

In 2009, Philip Lahm was fined by the club after doing little more than questioning Bayern's recruitment policy.

Muller did play a part in Robert Lewandowski's second goal of the afternoon, setting up the Polish forward to make it 2-0 in the 75th minute.

"We still have a lot of games this season and we know very well what we have with Thomas," said Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic, in relation to Muller's comments.

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