Global Superstars Son and Müller Set for Pivotal MLS Playoff Showdown in Vancouver

The highly anticipated MLS Cup playoffs are poised for a captivating encounter this Saturday as two of the league’s most impactful midseason acquisitions, Son Heung-Min of LAFC and Thomas Müller of the Vancouver Whitecaps, prepare to face off. This clash, featuring players who have profoundly exceeded expectations since their arrival, guarantees that one dream debut season will regrettably come to an early conclusion.

Midseason transfers in professional soccer often carry an inherent gamble. While the ideal scenario envisions a player seamlessly integrating, enhancing team performance, and justifying significant investment, reality frequently presents a more complex picture, with many high-profile signings struggling to adapt. However, the 2024 MLS season has been a testament to the remarkable success stories of Son Heung-Min and Thomas Müller, whose immediate and electrifying contributions have propelled their respective clubs into the postseason conversation. It is almost a lamentable twist of fate that these two luminaries are set to meet at this early stage of the playoffs rather than deeper into the tournament.

Son Heung-Min, the South Korean international, has been nothing short of a revelation for LAFC. Since joining, he has recorded an impressive 10 goals and four assists across 12 league and playoff appearances, captivating the club’s fervent fanbase with his signature smile and dynamic play. His offensive prowess has been a critical factor in LAFC’s late-season surge. Similarly, Thomas Müller, the decorated German World Cup winner, has delivered a near-identical impact for the Vancouver Whitecaps, contributing eight goals and three assists in just nine matches, including postseason fixtures. His consistent output has been vital for the Canadian side.

The exceptional performances of both Son and Müller, in stark contrast to the struggles of other high-profile Designated Players, raise pertinent questions about the factors contributing to their rapid acclimatization and success beyond their undeniable talent. Earlier this year, ESPN explored this very query in relation to top-tier MLS acquisitions. Key factors identified included the ability to adapt swiftly to the league’s unique style of play, a genuine capacity to integrate with new teammates both on and off the field, and an unwavering hunger to win. While these principles may sound straightforward, they demand a specific character type—one that embraces and navigates the distinct soccer culture and operational differences prevalent in MLS compared to Europe’s established leagues. By all accounts from their respective clubs, both Müller and Son have comprehensively fulfilled these demanding criteria.

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LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead recounted his initial interaction with Son Heung-Min, an encounter that provided early insight into the forward’s character. The meeting occurred when Son was introduced before a Leagues Cup match against Tigres. Hollingshead, warming up in the locker room with weights, offered them to Son. "[Son] said, ‘Let’s get to work,’" Hollingshead recalled, noting that Son then laughed and immediately began the exercise despite being in street clothes. "It was just one of those where it was like, I got to test his banter early, and he definitely passed the test." This anecdotal evidence underscores Son’s immediate readiness and personable demeanor.

Son’s seamless integration into LAFC’s tactical framework has been a cornerstone of his success. Manager Steve Cherundolo had identified a need for an additional attacking threat, a player capable of finishing chances and creating opportunities from seemingly innocuous situations. Son’s skillset proved to be an ideal fit for LAFC’s counterattacking style. His partnership with established forward Denis Bouanga has been particularly devastating for opposing defenses, with Bouanga netting 13 times since Son’s arrival, indicative of the enhanced offensive flow and space created by the South Korean’s presence.

Beyond his tactical fit, Son’s attitude has been pivotal. Hollingshead described Son as a demanding player who is unafraid to voice concerns when something is not working, yet consistently does so in a constructive manner. "[Son] is the first one to push for things," Hollingshead stated. "But then, as soon as the play breaks, he’s coming over and giving you a high five and laughing with you and talking to you about what he could have done differently himself and what he saw, and he’s talking through the play. So it’s like trying to find a solution. And that’s what I love. It’s not just frustration. It’s like, ‘How do we as a team get better?’ His goal is always to make the team better." This collaborative and solution-oriented approach has fostered a positive team environment.

Familiar faces have also aided Son’s transition. LAFC’s goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, previously served as Son’s captain during their tenure together at Tottenham Hotspur. Furthermore, manager Steve Cherundolo had direct experience playing against Son during their respective careers in the Bundesliga—Cherundolo with Hannover 96, and Son with Hamburg and later Bayer Leverkusen. Cherundolo recalled Son as "constantly a thorn to your side, running and darting and just a pain." Reflecting on these various factors, Cherundolo concluded, "All of those components point into really only one direction… This was always headed towards success."

Parallels can be drawn between the attributes used to describe Son by LAFC personnel and those attributed to Müller by Vancouver players and staff. A common thread is a relentless pursuit of perfection coupled with a profound humility. Vancouver manager Jesper Sørensen highlighted Müller’s team-first mentality. "He wants it to be about the Whitecaps with Thomas on the team, and not about Thomas and then with the Whitecaps in the background," Sørensen explained. "So I think that’s been his ambition from day one. And that’s also been how he’s been acting, and that’s been very easy for his teammates to deal with. Also with him and also for us as coaches, because obviously we also looked how we could make him fit well into how we would like to do stuff." This emphasis on collective success has clearly resonated within the Whitecaps squad.

Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter shared a particularly impactful anecdote about Müller’s early communication. Prior to his arrival in Vancouver, Müller sent Berhalter a text message introducing himself and expressing his excitement to play alongside the U.S. international, conveying a belief that they would achieve great things together. This gesture left a significant impression. "[That] kind of just set the tone from the beginning, that he’s just like us and he wants to just be one of the boys," Berhalter told ESPN. "And that’s something from day one, he’s emphasized that he just wants to be one of the boys and we’ve tried to make him feel like that."

As teammates, their conversations have spanned a wide array of topics, from intricate soccer tactics and recovery protocols to broader life philosophies. Berhalter’s primary takeaway from these discussions centers on Müller’s distinctive approach: "[Müller] doesn’t overthink things, he doesn’t make anything complicated," said Berhalter. "He keeps it very simple and very easy and he does what he wants to do, and that’s very clear and that I think is what makes him successful. He’s learned over his career that, for him, it’s about just being himself and doing the right things and being a realist almost in senses and not trying to hide and going after it." This pragmatic and authentic approach appears to be a cornerstone of Müller’s enduring effectiveness.

Despite spending his entire illustrious pre-MLS career with German giant Bayern Munich, Müller acknowledged that his move to MLS represented a significant shift, one where success was far from guaranteed. His adaptability and mindset served as his critical insurance policy. "I was not coming here for vacation," Müller informed reporters on Tuesday. "I wanted to do a serious job and that was always my goal when I came here, that I want to perform. But you never know in a different country, different league, in a new team, how long this process maybe will last until you’re really a real part of the team." He added, "But yeah, in the end I was always able to adapt really quick to situations during all my career. I changed my playing styles so many times in a tiny bit of way." This insight highlights his professional resilience and willingness to evolve.

The two global stars are no strangers to each other on the pitch, having faced off nine times previously in their careers. Müller holds the historical edge with a record of six wins, one loss, and two draws against Son. However, Son’s solitary victory was particularly memorable and impactful: a 2-0 triumph for South Korea over defending champions Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a result that famously eliminated Müller’s side from the tournament.

When queried about his recollections of facing Son in the Bundesliga, Müller noted the unfairness of comparing Son’s earlier performances with his current status. He pointed out that Son’s Hamburg and Leverkusen teams in those days simply did not possess the collective talent to consistently challenge powerhouses like Bayern Munich. "We are now [on] very good teams, two very good teams, and he is a big player there," Müller said of Son’s current standing. "I’m a big player here, so it’s a little bit different because when he was at Hamburg, when we came with Bayern at this time, we crushed him every time." This historical context adds another layer of intrigue to their impending playoff duel.

LAFC will undoubtedly be striving to avoid a similar fate this Saturday, requiring a concerted effort to nullify Müller’s influence. Cherundolo, having faced him as a player, understands the magnitude of this challenge. "He’s one of the most intelligent players out there in the world, just really exceptional at reading the moment in the game and what the game needs," Cherundolo asserted. He further elaborated on Müller’s unique style: "He has a very lanky and long frame and his technique sometimes look like it’s out of control, but I can tell you firsthand it is everything but that. It is 100% under control and in control. He’s exceptional at his first touch, his passes, his finishes." Cherundolo concluded by praising Müller’s fundamental strengths: "He doesn’t make mistakes and his timing of spatial awareness is amazing. His prowess in the box and sniffing plays out is world class."

Son’s own prowess is equally world-class, promising a high-caliber contest for fans and neutrals alike. As Saturday approaches, the soccer world will witness two extraordinary talents, each a beacon of success in their new MLS environments, vie for the continuation of their remarkable dream season. Only one will advance.